A drugs courier from Oban has been jailed for two years after taking high purity cocaine worth up to £100,000 to Aberdeen.
Alana Moore, 21, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court for sentencing after previously admitting being concerned in the supply of cocaine on February 23 this year at the city’s bus station.
Moore’s defence solicitor told the court she committed the offence after becoming involved in an abusive relationship.
He said: “Because of the relationship she was in by February this year she was in serious debt, and was facing homelessness. She felt she had no option but to try and break away.”
He described her as being in a “vulnerable place”.
The court heard she was offered money to take the packages of cocaine – which had a value of at least £20,000, but could have reached around £100,000, to Aberdeen.
However, her solicitor said she believed she was carrying benzocaine – often used as a cutting agent, rather than cocaine.
Moore, of Morven Hill, cried in the dock as she was jailed for two years by Sheriff Andrew Miller, who told her: “The damage class A drugs cause in communities across Scotland is well known and understood. There are many ways in which a person can become involved in the chain of supply of controlled drugs. Some people are in charge of the overall operation – I accept you were not one of these people. But class A drugs only make their way to end users because other people involve themselves in one way or another in the chain of supply, and you are one of these,
“For your own reasons you made the decision and chose to convey these packages across the country when you must have known or suspected that it contained controlled drugs or was related to the supply of controlled drugs.
“Ultimately I accept you were not in charge of this operation, I accept the cocaine did not belong to you.”
“We are dealing with a very significant quantity of cocaine of a very high purity. I do not doubt your remorse at having chosen to become involved in this enterprise, but it was your choice – in my view having regard to the extremely serious nature only a significant sentence of imprisonment would suffice. Firstly as a punishment, and secondly as a warning to others who may consider making a choice of the kind you made.”
