Images – Police Scotland

Forget the Daniels and Lyons Scottish drug gangsters so beloved of the media operating in Scotland. They’re at a global level. They’re not dealing to your kids. This lot are, in a hundred locations from Thurso to Dumfries.

From BBC Scotland: NE, Orkney & Shetland, yesterday:

Eight men have been arrested and charged after police in Aberdeen seized drugs with a street value of more than £1.37m.Officers targeted 11 addresses across the city on Monday and Tuesday and discovered eight cannabis cultivations.

The men, aged between 24 and 54, were due to appear before Aberdeen Sheriff Court. Det Insp Andy Machray said: “This was a significant recovery which highlights our commitment to tackling the supply and distribution of illegal substances on our streets.”

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg4242x8x0o?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Bheadline%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D

There’s no mention of where these eight men are from but we know by now that, almost certainly, all are from English cities.

How do we know?

There is clear evidence of county lines activity in Aberdeen linked to gangs based in English cities, particularly London and Merseyside/Liverpool. https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2023/may/five-people-convicted-for-drugs-offences-in-aberdeen/

County lines involve urban organised crime groups (often from major English cities) exporting drugs like heroin and crack cocaine to other areas (including Scotland) using dedicated phone lines (“deal lines”), exploiting vulnerable people (including children) as runners or cuckooing victims’ homes. https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/what-we-do/crime-threats/drug-trafficking/county-lines

Key documented cases in Aberdeen:

• Operation Dismantle (2020): Police Scotland’s North East Division disrupted a county lines network supplying crack cocaine and heroin from London to Aberdeen. Drugs were dealt from addresses in Aberdeen City Centre and Rosemount. The main organiser, Donovan Gilbert Smith (27, from Hornchurch, London), was arrested with cash and proceeds; he received a 7-year sentence. Associates (including couriers) were also convicted. Detective Chief Inspector Karen Main explicitly described it as disrupting a “supply line of drugs from London to Aberdeen.” https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2023/may/five-people-convicted-for-drugs-offences-in-aberdeen/
• Recent case (2025–2026): Victor Kihu (24) was jailed for his role in a county lines operation using “cuckooing” (taking over vulnerable people’s homes in Aberdeen for drug supply). He exploited victims (including threats and phone confiscation) as part of an organised crime group operating between Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Inverness. Drugs were supplied from multiple properties. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c992p7p77npo
• Merseyside/Liverpool links: Gangs from Merseyside have sent children to Aberdeen as part of “county lines” operations to transport drugs and cash. Joint operations with Merseyside Police and British Transport Police have targeted this, including arrests in Aberdeen and Liverpool areas. https://www.aberdeenlive.news/news/aberdeen-news/gangs-send-merseyside-children-aberdeen-8589587

Why is BBC Scotland saying so little on this?