A STASH of guns and a “complex cryptocurrency fraud” were discovered by police in Dumfries earlier this year, it has been revealed.
A police raid linked to these offences then resulted in the seizure of financial assets worth nearly half a million pounds.
A 46-year-old man from Dumfries was arrested and charged in connection with the offences.
Police chief superintendent Steven Meikle told Dumfries and Galloway councillors about busy police activity in recent months, which also included several large drugs hauls.
Speaking at the council’s police, fire and rescue sub committee last week, the police chief said: “In terms of noteworthy arrests, a 46-year-old male from Dumfries was arrested and charged following a complex cryptocurrency fraud and firearms offences, which also resulted in the seizure of financial assets of £480,000.”
On other matters, he continued: “Three males from the Leeds area were arrested and charged for a theft and attempted theft of an HGV and trailers in the Lockerbie trailer park. The total value of the assets was £250,000.
“This followed a significant inquiry which was undertaken by our local CID officers.”
Chief superintendent Steven Meikle was reeling off some arrest highlights for elected members at last week’s meeting.
One incident occurred on February 18 this year when road traffic cops stopped a woman driver on the motorway.
He explained: “Following an intelligence-led operation, officers from Dumfries and Galloway road policing department and specialist crime division arrested a female on the M74, which resulted in the seizure of £43,000 worth of cannabis.
“Similarly on March 20, our road policing officers seized cocaine and cannabis to the value of £20,000.”
A police statistics report tabled at last week’s meeting showed that between April 1 last year and March 31 this year, there were a total of 17,864 crimes/offences committed in this region.
