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A 22-year-old man has been arrested and charged after being caught trying to smuggle drugs and contraband into HMP Edinburgh.

As part of the ongoing Operation Avocation – a Police Scotland and Scottish Prison Service campaign to stop illicit material entering prison and apprehend those responsible – enforcement activity was carried out around the facility on Thursday 19th June.

In total, 41 vehicles were stopped and 97 people were spoken to by police officers.

As a result of this activity, eight warnings were issued for minor road traffic offences and three Vehicle Rectification notices were issued.

During a stop and search, one male was found to be in possession of a quantity of diazepam as well as a small amount of a legal high substance, both of which were intended for an inmate.

The male was subsequently charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act and the Prisons Scotland Act. He was scheduled to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Friday).

Constable Tracey Gunn, Prison Link Officer at HMP Edinburgh said: “Operation Avocation activity regularly takes place to target those involved in smuggling drugs and other contraband items into Saughton Prison.

“As a result of Thursday’s activity, we were able to gather vital intelligence and arrest one male before drugs could enter the facility.

“Activity like this will continue and anyone found attempting to bring restricted items into prison will be robustly dealt with.”

Teresa Medhurst, Governor in Charge of HMP Edinburgh, said: “SPS is committed to working in partnership with the police to do all we can to prevent illegal substances being brought into prisons.”

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John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.