Fresh calls for tighter controls on drug trafficking at Cairnryan ferry port
Finlay Carson urges the Scottish Government to strengthen cross-border cooperation
Last updated 4th Jun 2026
An MSP is calling for the Scottish Government to take decisive action concerning recent drug recoveries at Cairnryan ferry port, one of Scotland's busiest transport hubs.
Finlay Carson, who represents Galloway and West Dumfries, emphasised the importance of not neglecting these seizures, urging stronger cooperation between Police Scotland and Irish authorities.
He said, “These shocking seizures at Cairnryan must serve as a wake-up call for the Scottish Government.”
Carson highlighted Scotland's grim distinction as the "drugs death capital of Europe" and the 11 suspected drug deaths in Galloway and West Dumfries in recent months.
He urged the Scottish Government to act quickly to address this crisis, remarking that this would ensure Police Scotland has the necessary resources to tackle organised crime gangs exploiting the Cairnryan route.
Scottish Conservatives have advocated for a recovery-focused strategy, encapsulated in their Right to Recovery Bill.
This bill aims to disrupt the cycle of addiction rather than merely managing its consequences.
Drug Seizures and Death Toll
Police Scotland reported 42 drug recoveries at Cairnryan Port from 2021 until April 2026, with cannabis and cocaine as the primary substances seized.
One seizure included 39 kilogrammes of cannabis, valued at over £170,000.
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Drug-related deaths spiked in Dumfries and Galloway in 2024, doubling to 24, against a national downward trend.
Stranraer and Wigtownshire, in particular, have been heavily affected by synthetic substances with at least 12 suspected deaths recorded this year.
"We want to know whether those 40-odd drug seizures is just the tip of the iceberg or whether the police are actually managing to stem the flow.
"But until we get some answers from the Justice Secretary, we're in the dark. It was this FOI that really brought it to light that there is a significant amount of drugs."
Security Challenges and Cross-Border Cooperation
Cairnryan, as a key hub for trade between the UK and Ireland, faces security challenges due to fewer checks compared to international ports.
"There's a huge amount of lorry traffic coming through these ports. There's something like £9 billion worth of trade every year that travels between here and Northern Ireland, so there is huge opportunity for these drugs to be transported.
"We want to make sure that policing is proportionate and will deter people from using this route."
Just this year, a cross-border police operation with PSNI and An Garda Síochána led to the seizure of cannabis worth approximately £4 million in Northern Ireland.
The drugs were reportedly concealed in lorry boxes travelling from Scotland and intended for organised crime groups in Ireland.
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Next steps
While waiting for the Justice Secretary to respond to his letter, MSP Carson shares his views on how this could be tackled in the meantime: "Looking at it anecdotally, we probably need a bigger police presence in Stranraer and Cairnryan, but what we need to do is to see the facts laid out.
"That's why I've written to Neil Gray to get a grip on actually what the scale of the issue actually is, and to see if the police presence is doing what we need it to do."
Justice Secretary Neil Gray said: “I want to thank Police Scotland for their hard work on enforcement action which continues to disrupt the activities of those involved in serious organised crime, particularly in the seizure of illegal drugs.
“Disrupting organised crime is a priority for the Scottish Government".
Detective Inspector Steven Kirkland said: “We work across Scotland’s ports to prevent and detect criminal activity, maintain national security and counter the threat from organised crime activity and terrorism.
"Working in partnership with key agencies, we are focused on disrupting serious and organised crime and ensuring that our ports remain a hostile environment for those seeking to exploit our borders for illegal purposes.
"Through visible and proactive policing, officers are committed to safeguarding the thousands of passengers that travel through our ports every day."
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