POLICE Scotland have made eight arrests in connection with a major operation aimed at targeting serious and organised crime.

On Friday, November 29, officers raided addresses in Glasgow, Cambuslang, Gartcosh, Barrhead, Renfrew, and Saltcoats, as part of “Operation Silhouette”, which began 18 months ago.

The operation is led by the Serious and Organised Crime Unit and is tasked with targeting and dismantling serious organised crime groups.

Police said that, including the eight arrests on Friday, Operation Silhouette has so far seen 36 arrests, as well as “significant recoveries” including 116kgs of cocaine, 140kgs of herbal cannabis, 50kgs of adulterant, and approximately £1.5 million in cash.

Officers said that the controlled drugs have an estimated total street value of £6m.

Six men – aged 37, 32, 30, 28, 29 and 28 – have been charged in connection with involvement in serious and organised crime and are due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday.

A man aged 29 and a 27-year-old woman were released pending further enquiries.

Detective Chief Inspector Laura Sands said: "This enforcement action underlines Police Scotland's commitment to tackling serious organised crime and the misery that this type of criminality inflicts on communities across Scotland.

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"Our officers work every day to protect the public by disrupting the cultivation and sale of illegal drugs and preventing them being circulated on our streets. This is vitally important in addressing the concerns of local people.

"This action reiterates our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country's Serious Organised Crime Strategy.

"Information from the public is absolutely crucial to our work and we ask anyone with knowledge about drugs activity in their area to call Police Scotland on 101.

“Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained."