COPS RAID TRAVELLERS CAMP IN DRUG PROBE; Three are held in swoop.

Byline: By Bob Dow

POLICE claim to have smashed a major crime ring in a swoop on a travellers' site yesterday.

A round 100 riot police stormed an isolated caravan park to break up a large-scale drugs organisation.

The campsite on the outskirts of Elgin, Moray, had been surrounded with huge boulders to keep people out.

But police in riot gear raced in during the early morning operation and arrested three men.

They also uncovered quantities of drugs.

It was the biggest police operation ever carried out in Moray and followed months of planning.

More arrests are expected, with detailed searches continuing at the site today. The Chanonry caravan park was formerly an official travellers' site, built by Moray Council.

But it was closed after being trashed and the gang moved in with caravans and took over.

Locals nicknamed the area "Little Beruit" and it quickly became a no-go area as it was turned into a "fortress".

There were reports that potential witnesses had been threatened and some had their cars set on fire as a warning.

Superintendent Alan Smailes, who was in charge of yesterday's operation, said: "It is clear that, what is, in effect, an organised crime group had established itself in the Elgin and surrounding areas and was involved in the wholesale distribution of illicit drugs, threats and violence.

"The fear, blight and misery caused by those involved in this vile trade has affected not only the people of Elgin but the wider community of the Moray area."

Chief Inspector Hugh Mackie, of Grampian Police, said the operation had been a huge success.

He added: "We want to send out the message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated in Elgin."

Moray Council workmen later used a digger to clear away the boulders.

Grampian Police last night confirmed that three people had been detained following the raid at the Chanonry caravan park and that a report had been submitted to the procurator fiscal.

CAPTION(S):

FORTRESS: A digger was used to give police access to the camp