Drug dealers and gangs in Scotland are facing an increased effort by police forces to thwart their illegal activities. Warnings have come down from the police and government ministers, but will it be enough to change the drug problem in Glasgow?

The Evening Times reported on the growing cocaine problem that seems to continue to increase, despite a record number of drug seizures. The problem is that no one really knows how much or how big the problem is in the area.

Warnings are coming down from the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency that an increased effort will result in higher number of arrests and the crushing of drug networks that drive profits.

The only problem, according to a leading drug expert, is that cocaine use is on the rise and different sectors of society are jumping on board. Even worse, no one really understands why this growth is happening or how far it reaches.

At the present time, cocaine is the second most widely used illegal substance, second only to cannabis. The tracking problem is fueled by the fact that people will use cocaine with other substances, including alcohol. When this happens, users are able to extend their binge longer, which in turn leads to greater risks.

Even with the warnings handed down from above, the justice system is already handling thousands of offenses every year. Government statistics suggest that 10 drug crimes are reported to police each day in the west of Scotland.

There is one conviction for every three offenses reported. Figures for the last year show a rise in the number of individuals possessing with intent to supply. It is unclear to what extent the government will need to go to make a dent in the cocaine problem, although further investigation is certainly needed.