The Herald yesterday, to everyone here’s surprise, has the above image and

Pair jailed in ‘County Lines’ drug operation in Aberdeen – Two men have been jailed after being caught with £10,000 worth of drugs in Aberdeen. Jahvid Frith, 28, and Tyrone Sealey were arrested in February 2023 when police recovered cocaine, heroin and cannabis from a flat in Marischal Court, as well as £2,000 in cash, multiple mobile phones and other items used to co-ordinate drug supply.

This is their first time since, in January 2019:

Whatever happened to Tony Diver?

You’d have thought this narrative with 11 year-old drug couriers using the rail network to carry, body internally, powerful drugs from England to Scotland might have been a big story for them but Tony appears to have gone below the surface, and with the Scotsman and BBC Scotland, the Herald has apparently taken one for Team GB until yesterday.

I suspect things are a bit more anarchic at the Herald/National so don’t expect to see this on Reporting Scotland.

In the Yahoo!News version we see:

The drug operation was a County Lines one between Aberdeen and England, meaning gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas, using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of “deal line”.

Does anybody think an Aberdeen-based County Lines gang is bringing terror to England?

What are County Lines gangs and what do they do? From Police Scotland in 2023:

Police Scotland acts to protect young people from County Lines drug dealers during week of activity

Police Scotland targeted drugs dealers who exploit vulnerable young people during a national County Lines Intensification Week of activity – between Monday, 9 October and Friday, 15 October 2023.

Proactive action by officers across the country saw a number of vulnerable people being identified and safeguarded and addresses used for cuckooing being visited.

Illegal drugs and offensive weapons, including a firearm, were also recovered.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Freeburn said: “The harm caused by illegal drugs across Scotland is well-documented and County Lines drug dealers bring nothing but misery to our communities. They exploit vulnerable people and groom and threaten young people to become involved in their nefarious activities.

“Over the week we have worked in partnership with a wide range of national organisations, including the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, to crack down on those involved in County Lines activity.

“Our message is clear, this is simply not welcome or tolerated in Scotland.”

During the UK-wide initiative – co-ordinated by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) – officers in Scotland safeguarded 17 vulnerable people and engaged with another 650.

373 addresses believed to be used for the purposes of cuckooing were also visited.

https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2023/october/police-scotland-acts-to-protect-young-people-from-county-lines-drug-dealers-during-week-of-activity/