POLICE have recovered quantities of cannabis with a street value of around £1.4 million as five men were arrested.
Police Scotland said £700,000 of the drug was recovered from addresses in Livingston, Penicuik, Bathgate and Armadale in the Lothians area, alongside an undisclosed five-figure sum of cash on Thursday.
A further quantity of cannabis was discovered in Edinburgh.
Three men aged 24, 30 and 32 were arrested and are due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court on Saturday.
Another £700k stash of cannabis was seized from a property in Kilmarnock on Thursday.
Officers attended a property in Glenfield Place at around 8.15am to execute a warrant and found a cultivation of 1100 cannabis plants.
Two men aged 29 and 33 were arrested and charged in connection with the discovery.
They are both expected to appear at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Friday.
Detective Sergeant John Irvine of Police Scotland said: “This represents a significant recovery and highlights our efforts to disrupt the drugs trade in our local communities.
“Seizures such as this show our commitment nationally to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s serious and organised crime strategy.
“We will continue to take all steps to tackle and disrupt individuals involved in drug supply and I encourage anyone with any information to contact Police Scotland on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
