A day of action targeting drug dealing, violence and anti-social behaviour .

A day of action targeting drug dealing, violence and anti-social behaviour took place across Moray on Thursday.

Seven people will be reported in relation to being in possession of controlled drugs, including cocaine, diazepam, cannabis and methadone. Additionally £2000 in cash was recovered under Proceeds of Crime legislation.

The seven people, five men aged 55, 42, 35 and two aged 28, and two women aged 38 and 28, will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

A total of seven drug search warrants were executed in the Den Crescent and Mar Place areas of Keith as well as another property on the outskirts of Keith, the Fraser Road area of Burghead, the Covesea Road area of Elgin and the Urquhart Lane and Nicholson Place areas of Forres.

The operation on Thursday follows on from another day of action that took place in Elgin on Friday 22 April, 2016 where 10 people were reported for drugs offences.

Thursday's operation was an intelligence led operation in response to concerns raised by the local communities in Moray.

Officers from community policing teams in Buckie, Keith, Forres and Elgin were involved in the operation and were supported by specialist officers from the Operational Support Unit, CID Pro-Active Unit, Divisional Violence Reduction Unit, Divisional Organised Crime Unit and police dogs and handlers.

Elgin Community Policing Team Inspector Paul McCruden said: "The action carried out across Moray on Thursday this week and Friday last week shows that we will take enforcement action on those dealing drugs wherever they stay. We will disrupt their activities and take away their drugs and money and report them to the courts. We are only able to do that with the support of the public who don't want drug dealers operating on their street.

"Anyone who has information should contact us on 101, send us an email, alert Crimestoppers anonymously or speak with their local policing team. As you can see from the activity carried out over the past week, we will act on information received."