Salvation Army house in "£50K drugs swoop"

0 - 0 • Published 13 May 2009 13:53 0 Comments

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A HOUSE owned by the Salvation Army was last week at the centre of an alleged drug bust worth almost £50,000.

It is alleged that police seized approximately nine kilos of cannabis resin from 51 Churchill Drive, Bishopton, which is owned by the charity, at 4pm last Wednesday.

Four men aged between 27 and 34, were arrested in connection and it is believed all four are Chinese nationals.

Police said the drugs had an estimated street value of £45,000 and the swoop comes as part of Operation League.

One Bishopton resident, who didn"t want to be named, told The Gazette of his shock at the drug raid in the quiet village.

He said: 'We have kids in the school there and when my wife saw what was happening she phoned me because she was panicking because she didn"t want them getting frightened.

'We had seen unusual comings and goings at the house like there being no lights on when people were in the flat.

'This is a sleepy wee place and nothing really happens here, and there isn"t really much crime in the area.

'The flat is owned by the Salvation Army so they are ultimately responsible for it so you think they would keep an eye on what is happening there.

'As a charitable organisation they have a responsibility to look after their properties.

'The first time we saw these Chinese people was a fortnight ago and we saw them going in and out with suitcases and there was never any lights on when you went past.

'My wife saw them coming out of the house with a suitcase they could barely carry and then the police came out and nabbed them.

'The whole village has been talking about this.

'We just thought at first that they might be round to do some work on the house.'

A spokeswoman for the Salvation Army said: 'We can confirm that the premises at 51 Churchill Drive in Bishopton is part of our property portfolio and were used as quarters for officers (ministers) but, we understand, was currently unoccupied.

'In April of 2008, we engaged the services of a local letting agency, who were trusted with the contractual responsibility for letting the premises.

'We are shocked to be informed that this property is at the centre of a police investigation.'

This article appeared in The Gazette 13 May 09

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