Police uncovered the UK’s first known lab for a deadly drug linked to 38 deaths in Scotland this year.

A lab to make nitazenes, high-strength synthetic opioids which are sometimes mixed into other drugs, was found in Ayshire.

A board was told that the discovery of the lab and seizure of its equipment and products has led to a significant reduction in the supply of benzodiazepines – another type of drug which sometimes contains nitazenes.

The Scottish Police Authority’s board heard from senior Police Scotland officers on Thursday.

Deputy chief constable Jane Connors and chief constable Jo Farrell said there had been success in arresting people linked to the pill presses.

Connors said: ‘We believe that having taken some of those (presses) and the pills off (the market) may well have con

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