By Grant Hill

A COURT has ordered the seizure of £35,000 of suspected drug money, found in a Dundee street, under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Police discovered the sum stashed in a hole in the ground in Clepington Road last October after receiving a tip-off from residents.

A senior detective yesterday expressed his delight after Dundee Sheriff Court ordered the forfeiture, and said that the case proves police operate more effectively with the co-operation of the public.

Although no one has been arrested as a result of the find, the fact the seizure went uncontested—coupled with the vast amount of money involved—leaves Detective Superintendent Jim Cameron confident the cash is related to drug dealing.

He said, “The information passed on by two residents formed the basis of a police inquiry into possible drug dealing activity in the area and officers found the money, in cash, in a hole in the ground.

“Although it cannot be proved to be directly linked to drug dealing, it was presented to the sheriff court under the Proceeds of Crime Act and subsequently seized.

“The fact no one came forward to claim £35,000 that was found in a hole in the ground says everything.”

He continued, “This is a fantastic example of the public helping out police in the fight against drug-related crime by taking action about suspicious activity, and we would like to thank the individuals involved as £35,000 is a substantial sum indeed.”

The seizure comes a month after a major Scottish Executive campaign was launched aimed at encouraging members of the public to inform on drug dealers in their community.

The Dealers Don’t Care, Do You? initiative is funded by money forfeited by criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the aim of reinvesting in the communities hit hardest by drug abuse.

In the two years since the act was passed, just over £2 million has been drawn down from the courts and Crown Office to the Executive.

Mr Cameron hailed the success of the campaign, saying there had been a huge rise in the amount of information passed on since its inception.

“Calls to us have increased dramatically, by around 400% in fact, since the start of the campaign, and a number of cases are pending as a result,” he said.

“Again this highlights the benefits of people getting involved and provides tangible evidence that police operate best only with the direct involvement of the public.”