Cannabis haul update given

A POLICE boss has given more details on the huge stockpile of cannabis plants, worth a six-figure sum, which were found in Newton Stewart last week.

Police armed with a warrant raided an address in the town and came across hundreds of the class B hash plants, writes Marc McLean.

Chief Superintendent Claire Dobson, police commander for Dumfries and Galloway, revealed details of the discovery at the council’s police, fire, and rescue sub committee last Thursday.

As she provided councillors with an update on tackling drug crime, she said: “We continue to focus on enforcement and, following the execution of a warrant on Tuesday, June 9, there was a drugs recovery in Newton Stewart of £368,400 worth of cannabis plants, with two males arrested and charged.”

Her announcement comes four months after cannabis plants worth nearly £1 million were recovered from a property in Dumfries town centre.

Officers searched a building in Friars Vennel under warrant on Sunday, February 1. The plants, which had an estimated street value of £954,000, were recovered.

A 47-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with the recovery.

Meanwhile, at last week’s committee, Police Commander Dobson revealed that in January and February this year, officers raided 11 houses across the region, armed with Misuse of Drugs Act warrants.

Eighteen stop searches were also carried out, with controlled drugs worth £4980 recovered.

It was also confirmed that drug deaths in Dumfries and Galloway rose from 26 in 2024 to 31 in 2025.

* Library photo