Latest news with #MarkWalker
Edinburgh Reporter
4 days ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Drug dealer jailed for two years and eight months at High Court
A 27-year-old man has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison in relation to drugs offences in Edinburgh. Ardit Mazrreku, was sentenced today at the High Court in Edinburgh, for being concerned in drug dealing in the capital in September 2024. Officers searched the property on Ratcliffe Terrace in the city during the morning of Wednesday, 25 September 2024 and recovered cannabis and cocaine with an estimated street value of £165,000. Sergeant Mark Walker said: 'Police Scotland is committed to removing illegal substances from our communities and we will take all measures to disrupt those involved in the drug trade. 'This arrest and conviction underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country's Serious Organised Crime Strategy. 'Recoveries such as this rely on information from people who do not tolerate the scourge of drugs in their neighbourhoods. 'Anyone with concerns about drugs in their community can contact us via 101, or calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.' Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Scotsman
Man jailed after £165,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine seized in Edinburgh raid
A man has been sentenced to two years and eight months behind bars after police recovered a significant quantity of drugs at an Edinburgh property. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Ardit Mazrreku, 27, was sentenced today at the High Court in Edinburgh for being concerned in drug dealing in the capital in September 2024. On September 24 last year, officers searched a property on Ratcliffe Terrace where they recovered cannabis and cocaine with an estimated street value of £165,000. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ardit Mazrreku, 27 was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday, 18 June | Police Scotland Sergeant Mark Walker said: 'Police Scotland is committed to removing illegal substances from our communities and we will take all measures to disrupt those involved in the drug trade. "This arrest and conviction underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country's Serious Organised Crime Strategy. Recoveries such as this rely on information from people who do not tolerate the scourge of drugs in their neighbourhoods." Anyone with concerns about drugs in their community can contact Police Scotland via 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
Drug dealer caught with £165k worth of cocaine and cannabis after cops raid Edinburgh flat
Ardit Mazrreku was caught after cops acting on intelligence raided a property on Ratcliffe Terrace in the city in September. A drug dealer caught with £165,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine has been jailed. Ardit Mazrreku, 27, was sentenced two two years and eight months in jail at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday June 18, in relation to drugs offences in Edinburgh. Cops acting on intelligence raided a property on Ratcliffe Terrace in the city during the morning of Wednesday September 25 and recovered the cannabis and cocaine. Sergeant Mark Walker said: ' Police Scotland is committed to removing illegal substances from our communities and we will take all measures to disrupt those involved in the drug trade. "This arrest and conviction underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country's Serious Organised Crime Strategy. 'Recoveries such as this rely on information from people who do not tolerate the scourge of drugs in their neighbourhoods. "Anyone with concerns about drugs in their community can contact us via 101, or calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
Edinburgh Live
5 days ago
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh man thrown behind bars after police discovery during 'property raid'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Get the latest Edinburgh Live breaking news on WhatsApp An Edinburgh man has been sentenced to two years and eight months in jail after police found thousands of pounds worth of drugs during a raid. Ardit Mazrreku, 27, appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday for sentencing. In September, officers acted on intelligence and searched a home on Ratcliffe Terrace. They recovered cannabis and cocaine with an estimated street value of £165,000. Sergeant Mark Walker said: 'Police Scotland is committed to removing illegal substances from our communities and we will take all measures to disrupt those involved in the drug trade. "This arrest and conviction underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country's Serious Organised Crime Strategy. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox 'Recoveries such as this rely on information from people who do not tolerate the scourge of drugs in their neighbourhoods." Anyone who has concerns about drugs in their community is urged to contact police on 101.
CBS News
05-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Judge largely denies request to block requests on law that restricts Florida's citizen-driven ballot amendments process
A federal judge has largely denied requests by grassroots campaigners to block portions of a new Florida law that restricts the state's citizen-driven process for getting constitutional amendments on the ballot. Organizers of separate campaigns to expand Medicaid and legalize recreational marijuana had urged U.S. District Mark Walker to block implementation of parts of the law, arguing that the new requirements violate their First Amendment rights. But in an order issued Wednesday, Walker granted a narrow injunction, barring state officials from enforcing one section of the law criminalizing ballot petition fraud against one campaign staffer. The order means that at least for now, the campaigns will largely have to operate under the new restrictions as they try to gather enough signatures to qualify for the 2026 ballot. Legislatures in dozens of states have advanced bills recently to crack down on the public's ability to put measures up for a vote, according to the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. Voting rights advocates say the trend betrays the promise of direct democracy. Under Florida's new law, an individual could be charged with a felony if they collect more than 25 signed ballot petitions, other than their own or those of immediate family members, and don't register with the state as a petition circulator. The law signed last month by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis also gives campaigns just 10 days instead of the previous 30 to return signed petition forms to local elections officials. Petitioners could also face stiff fines if they don't return the petitions on time, or send them to the wrong county. Lawmakers argue that the new restrictions are needed to reform a process they claim has been tainted by fraud. The Republican-controlled Legislature pushed the changes months after a majority of Florida voters supported ballot initiatives to protect abortion rights and legalize recreational marijuana, though the measures fell short of the 60% needed to pass. Attorneys for the campaigns Florida Decides Healthcare and Smart & Safe Florida have argued the new law makes gathering enough petitions from voters prohibitively expensive and effectively impossible. In his order, Walker wrote that the new provisions have caused "an immediate reduction in protected speech" by constraining the campaigns' ability to collect petitions — and volunteers' willingness to help. But Walker said the campaigners didn't prove that their free speech rights had been "severely burdened." "Instead, the record shows that these provisions simply make the process of getting their proposed initiatives on the ballot more expensive and less efficient for Plaintiffs," Walker wrote. But there are still free speech concerns to address as the lawsuit moves forward, Walker noted: "this Court is not suggesting that Plaintiffs are not likely to succeed on their First Amendment challenges to the new deadline and associated fines." In a statement, Mitch Emerson, the executive director for Florida Decides Healthcare, said he remains optimistic for the legal challenge ahead. "While the Court did not grant every part of our motion for preliminary relief, this is far from the final word," Emerson said. A spokesperson for Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
