DRUGS with an estimated street value of more than £10,000 have been seized in a police sting operation during raids on two houses in Kilwinning and Irvine.

Two teams of officers, armed with search warrants, swooped on a property in Warrix Avenue, Irvine and another in Braidwood Road, Kilwinning at around 9am on Friday, May 6.

As a result of the searches more than £10,000 of alleged class B drugs were seized.

Three people have been reported to the Procurator Fiscal following the alleged recovery.

Inspector Jim McMillan, Locality Policing Inspector for the area, said the operations were successful due to the force’s new local approach to policing.

He said: “On April 18 this year we introduced six new Locality Policing Teams in North Ayrshire.

“These teams have a focus on community engagement, crime prevention and

targeting issues of local concern.

“The information gained by police recently has led to the search of these addresses by our Irvine and Kilwinning Locality Policing Teams, supported by colleagues from our Priority Policing Team.”

Inspector McMillan revealed that the local focus would continue and he urged anyone with information on criminal behaviour in their area to contact police.

He added: “We are committed to keeping people safe.

“I would encourage anyone with any information on crime in their area to contact us.”

Information can be passed by calling Police Scotland on 101 (you should always dial 999 in an emergency) or by calling the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be maintained.