Police Scotland led a nationally coordinated enforcement that resulted in 36 arrests, the seizure of 14 cannabis cultivations and the recovery of a number of potential trafficking victims after dawn raids on 47 addresses across Scotland and elsewhere in the UK.
Scale and scope of the operation
The enforcement, which police described as the largest and most co-ordinated human trafficking operation the force has undertaken, saw roughly 300 officers deployed simultaneously to properties in Aberdeen, Dundee, Falkirk, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Midlothian, the Scottish Borders and two addresses in Fife. Arrests were also carried out in Birmingham.
Officers executed 35 warrants and discovered multiple cannabis cultivation sites during the action. A number of people removed from premises during the operation are being treated as potential victims of trafficking and will be offered support and safeguarding.
| Element | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Arrests | 36 |
| Addresses targeted | 47 |
| Officers involved | ~300 |
| Cannabis cultivations found | 14 |
| Warrants served | 35 |
Investigation and partners
The operation was led by Police Scotland’s National Human Trafficking Unit and conducted alongside colleagues from the Home Office Immigration Enforcement and HM Revenue & Customs. Police said the activity followed a lengthy inquiry focused on a suspected Vietnamese criminal network believed to be involved in trafficking, exploitation and organised immigration crime.
Enforcement action related to the probe had also taken place earlier in Northern Ireland, reflecting the cross-border dimension of the inquiry.
Police statement and next steps
Detective Superintendent Stevie Bertram, the head of the National Human Trafficking Unit, described the raids as the culmination of a sustained investigation carried out with partner agencies.
“This enforcement action is the biggest and most co‑ordinated human trafficking operation that we have ever carried out, and was the result of a lengthy investigation, working closely with our partners. We took a co‑ordinated approach and the arrests and seizures are the result of this work.”
She warned that trafficking is a sophisticated, hidden industry that can affect communities across the country and said the force would continue to target individuals who abuse, control and exploit people. Officers emphasised their commitment to raising public awareness so victims can be identified and supported.
Local outcomes and court appearances
Two people linked to the operation in Fife are due to appear in court this week. Police have not released details of charges for the majority of those arrested while enquiries remain ongoing. Investigators said further action should be expected as lines of inquiry are followed up.
- Multiple potential victims were recovered and are being offered safeguarding and support by partner agencies.
- Searches uncovered organised cannabis cultivation at several addresses.
- Additional arrests and enquiries may follow as investigators analyse evidence and execute further warrants.
The scale of the enforcement highlights renewed national focus on criminal groups that facilitate exploitation through organised immigration routes and forced labour. Prosecutors and police will now consider evidence gathered during the raids to determine the next legal steps, while agencies work to ensure anyone identified as a victim receives appropriate protection.
Police Scotland asked anyone with information about suspected trafficking or exploitation to contact the force or report concerns to partner agencies.
