A MASSIVE multi-million pound drug seizure in Greenock is the biggest organised crime bust in Scotland this year, police have revealed.

Officers dismantled a huge cannabis factory in the town centre as part of a series of operations which have netted £22 million worth of narcotics nationwide.

The recovery of £3.6 million worth of marijuana from a premises on West Stewart Street was one of a number of hish profile raids within Inverclyde alone.

Swoops at various locations in the district came about as part of intelligence-led police operations.

READ MORE: Three men in court after £3.6m cannabis recovery in Greenock

Three men were arrested and charged in connection with the West Stewart Street raid.

(Image: George Munro)

The value of the find exceeded the value of several major recoveries in Inverclyde in recent years and Police Scotland have now confirmed that it is the largest seizure they have recorded in 2024.

It was more than £1m than the second-largest recovery police have recorded this year, which also came in January, when £2,250,000 of cannabis was recovered in Dundee.

Large recoveries have also been made in Falkirk, Galashiels, Glasgow, Ayrshire, Aberdeen, Dumfries and Galloway, Lothian and Borders, Fife and Lanarkshire.

The Telegraph requested Inverclyde’s divisional commander Gordon McCreadie’s comment on the news that the raid was the country’s biggest this year, but Police Scotland’s corporate communications team instead directed us to comments supplied by Detective Inspector Gordon Smith at the time of the initial seizure.

(Image: George Munro)

Speaking after the raid, DI Smith said: “This recovery highlights our commitment to tackling Serious and Organised Crime and keeping our communities safe from the harm caused by illegal drugs.

"Support from members of the public is vital as part of our work to bring those responsible for supplying illegal substances to justice.”

The dramatic swoop was quickly followed by a second raid in February which saw an estimated £600,000 worth of cannabis seized from the former Mariners’ care home in Greenock and two men arrested and charged by officers.

(Image: George Munro)

Several teams of officers – both in plain clothes and uniform – surrounded the former care home on February 14 as the major pre-planned operation got underway.

READ MORE: Two charged after police swoop on Greenock cannabis factory

Police dogs and a drone were pressed into action alongside a convoy of unmarked cars and police vans.

(Image: George Munro)

Police also confirmed in March they had executed a drugs search warrant at the former Garvel Deaf Centre in Greenock and were seen removing large black bags from the building by onlookers, but have not stated publicly whether any drugs were seized.