While politicians and campaigners debate what should be done, the police get on with their job of targeting the drugs trade.
Their raids on Friday saw officers target properties in Glasgow, Cambuslang, Gartcosh, Barrhead, Renfrew and Saltcoats.
Five men, aged 32, 30, 28, 29 and 28, were charged with involvement in serious and organised crime and are due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court later.
A 36-year-old man was charged with being concerned in the supply of drugs.
A man aged 29 and a 27-year-old woman were released pending further inquiries.
Det Ch Insp Sands said: “We want to send out a clear message that you are not untouchable, we will target you and bring you to justice.”
She wanted the general public to know that if they report suspicions about people in their communities with unexplained wealth, action will be taken.
Asked if they were playing whack-a-mole, taking down one group only for another to take its place, she said: “It’s a constant battle.”
“We will work tirelessly and we will not stop in our fight against serious and organised crime. What we’re doing shows people that if they report it, we’ll do something about it.”
