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Publication - Statistics

Drug Seizures and Offender Characteristics, 2024-25

Published
27 January 2026
From
Chief Statistician, +1 more … Director of Safer Communities
Directorate
Justice Directorate, +1 more … Safer Communities Directorate

This is a publication detailing the estimated number and quantity of various drug types seized by Police Scotland in relation to both supply and possession crimes during the 2024-25 financial year.

Part of

Supporting documents

Key Points

This bulletin presents Official Statistics on drug seizures made by the police in Scotland and the characteristics of those found in possession of drugs. These statistics relate to drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which divides drugs into three classes, namely A, B and C. For the purpose of this bulletin, the drug classifications at the end of the reporting period to 31 March 2025 have been applied to the data.

The methodology used to collect information on drug supply seizures for 2024-25 has changed. As such, this data is not comparable with previous years. There is no change to the methodology used to collect information on drug possession seizures. For more information please see the Introduction section.

  • The quantity of drugs seized can fluctuate considerably each year and does not necessarily move in line with the number of seizures made. Whilst most drug seizures consist of relatively small quantities (usually possession-related crimes), annual quantities of drugs seized can be greatly influenced by a small number of large seizures (usually from supply-related crimes).

  • Of the 4,802 drug supply crimes recorded in 2024-25, almost half were estimated to involve Class B drugs (48%). A further 39% were estimated to involve Class A drugs and just under a tenth involved Class C drugs (8%).

  • For specific types of drugs, an estimated 28% of drug supply crimes for 2024-25 involved herbal cannabis, 21% cocaine and 10% cannabis plants.

  • Of the 20,389 drug possession crimes recorded by in 2024-25, more than half were estimated to involve Class B drugs (53%), a further 25% were estimated to involve Class A drugs and a fifth involved Class C drugs (20%).

  • For specific types of drugs, an estimated 43% of drug possession crimes for 2024-25 involved herbal cannabis, 14% benzodiazepines, 12% cocaine and 6% heroin.

  • In 2024-25, the total quantity of drugs seized from both supply and possession crimes were estimated to be around 200 kg of cocaine, around 70 kg of heroin, around 2,620 kg of herbal cannabis and around 2 million benzodiazepine tablets.

  • In 2024-25, over four out of every five drug possession offenders were male (84%). The median age of an offender was 32 years old, with a little under three-fifths (58%) being between 20 and 39 years old.

Drug Seizures and Offender Characteristics 2024-25

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