Drugs haul in south

Patrolling police officers first investigated a property in Ayr Road, Newton Mearns after noticing a pungent smell eminating from the property.

Inside, they found hundreds of plants believed to be cannabis and reported to be worth a substantial sum.

A man has been arrested in relation to the find and a report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal for cultivation of controlled drugs under the misuse of drugs act (1971).

Police also recently seized drugs worth a six figure sum, in Cathcart.

Officers acting upon information received, discovered a cannabis cultivation set-up within a flat in the southside’s Ruel Street, worth an estimated street value of approximately £150,000.

A man has been arrested in connection with the alleged find.

Inspector Alan Dickson, of Giffnock police station, described large scale drug operations in East Renfrewshire as “unusual”.

He told The Extra: “We quite often find people growing half a dozen plants — but this was a much more organisied situation.

“An industrial scale production was found in Shanks Park in Barrhead five years ago

but this is the biggest since then.

“We have yet to notice an upsurge in cannabis seizures in East Renfrewshire, but the operation has most likely been running for several months.”

Inspector Dickson has asked southsiders to be aware and report any suspicious activity.

He added: “We find cannabis cultivations in East Ren once every two or three months in all shapes and sizes.

“People are now more likely to grow their own rather than smuggling illegal drugs into the country.

“If any residents notice people coming and going at strange times in the night or a strange, sickly-sweet smell then please let us know.

“Local tip offs are how we get the majority of our discoveries so we ask that the community does not hesitate in passing on their suspicious.

“To give information anonymously you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Police have also received a total of five reports of skimming devices at cash machines across East Renfrewshire.

Criminals use this scam to obtain the victim’s pin number via a camera phone or even by using binoculars.

The card is then trapped in the machine as a result of tampering.

Criminals are then able to reclaim the trapped card and use the pin.

Inspector Dickson has asked local people to be on alert. He said: “Incidents of this kind are growing and they generally happen at night.

“We ask local people to be extremely vigilant when it comes to suspicious activities involving cash machines, and that they please use extra care when inserting their pin.”