Police seized a replica firearm and drugs worth £28,000 in a recent operation in Fife.
Operation Prospect saw 12 arrests made after 14 addresses were searched across Dunfermline, Burntisland, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Cowdenbeath, Cardenden and Levenmouth.
The effort was praised by substance misuse support charity Addaction.
Welcoming the operation, Gareth Balmer from the charity also highlighted Scotland’s “unprecedented” drug deaths rate.
He said: “Although Scotland is actually seeing reductions in illicit drug use across all age groups, in particular those under 25, we are still experiencing unprecedented rates of drug-related death in Scotland.
“Drugs and in particular heroin use continue to affect Fife and indeed the whole of Scotland.
“We hope that police operations such as these will go some way to reducing the amount of drugs available in our communities and will, I hope, act as a catalyst for people to seek help or to engage more fully in treatment programmes.
“Treatment is effective and available and there are a number of drop-in clinics around Fife where people can be assessed and quickly referred into appropriate treatment.”
Under Operation Prospect, drugs including heroin, cocaine and cannabis with an approximate value of £28,000 were recovered.
The police searches also resulted in an illegal replica firearm, £2,200 in cash, stolen property to the value of £800 and a motor vehicle being confiscated.
Detective Chief Inspector Scott Cunningham, who led the operation, said: “We are taking positive enforcement action to arrest individuals and recover drugs and weapons from our communities.
“We have carried out planned and focused activity and will continue to do so with the ongoing assistance of the public which is crucial.
“However we know it is also crucial that the right support, education and prevention is in place to make our communities safer and protect the public.
“To that end we are committed to working with our partners to tackle the supply of drugs across the region and reduce the harm drug dealing causes.”
“Helping people into recovery is a challenge in communities where drugs are easily accessible, but it is a challenge we are determined to face.”
Fife Council has been working with police to warn children about the dangers of using illicit substances.
Council education officer Gordon Wardrope said: “Our schools talk to children and young people about the dangers of illegal substances and work with pupils and other organisations to help further reduce drug use among young people.”
