SEVEN more people have been arrested as a result of a series of drugs raids carried out by police in East Lothian.

More than 90 officers took part in the Operation Jigsaw raids in Tranent, Musselburgh and Haddington on Friday, March 24 leading to nearly £50,000 worth of drugs being seized and 15 arrests.

Police said, as a result of information from the local communities where the raids were carried out, they have since arrested a further seven people and taken more drugs off the streets.

On Tuesday, last week, two search warrants were executed at addresses in Tranent where more than £1,400 in cash and nearly £600 worth of herbal cannabis and drug paraphernalia were seized and a 29-year-old man arrested, in connection with the supply of drugs.

The following day, three men, aged 29, 41 and 41, from Tranent, were arrested for outstanding warrants and last Friday two women, aged 49 and 19, were arrested in Prestonpans for outstanding warrants.

On Monday, a 32-year-old woman was also arrested for an outstanding warrant in Haddington.

Chief Inspector Matt Paden, local area commander for East Lothian, said information from members of the public in the wake of the drugs raids had led to the additional arrests and further searches.

He said: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank the public for their assistance so far. Support from our communities is vital in tackling such offences and we will act on the information we receive from the public.

"Our communities have told us that tackling drug offences and associated criminality continues to be a priority for them, and therefore it continues to be a priority for us.

"Operation Jigsaw has already demonstrated that drug misuse is not isolated from other criminal activity and how important enforcement days like this are in detecting a range of offences.

“We'd urge people to continue to tell us their concerns by speaking to a local officer, contacting Police Scotland on 101 or reporting information anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Since Operation Jigsaw was launched in November, 23 vehicles and properties have been searched, in East Lothian and neighbouring Midlothian, over £80,000 worth of drugs and cash have been seized, and a total of 40 people have either been arrested or reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

During the latest drugs raids nearly two weeks ago, three items were also seized in Tranent under the Firearms Act 1968.