Greenkeepers at a municipal golf course got a shock when they discovered a rucksack containing more than £11,000 worth of drugs hidden near the 13th hole.
But the find proved to be unlucky for 29-year-old Bryan Durrand who had left his fingerprints on the packaging used to wrap up the amphetamine.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told the greenkeepers at Torvean Golf Course in Inverness were so surprised, one remarked: “It’s like the stuff you see in films.”
But fiscal depute Michelle Molley told Sheriff Chris Dickson that “rural stashes” – hiding illegal contraband in country locations – are “favoured by persons concerned in the supply of drugs as a method to conceal dealer quantities of controlled drugs.
“This minimises the police linking the drugs to those persons concerned.”
Durrand, of Knocknagael, Inverness, admitted being concerned in the supply of the drug on December 15, 2014 whilst he was on bail for another matter.
Ms Molley said: “The two employees discovered a partially buried rucksack at a felled tree near to the 13th hole. They opened it and saw two bags containing smaller polythene bags.
“They suspected the bags contained controlled drugs and in their words “it looks like the stuff you see in films.”
Police were notified and sent the contents of two supermarket bags for analysis.
Ms Molley added: “The fingerprints of Durrand were recovered from all the layers protecting the substances. The weight was found to be 445.83 grams, 476.81 grams and 1013.47 grams.
“In total the wholesale value was £2,500 but dependent on weight of street deals, would achieve a median retail value of £11,079.” Ms Molley added.
It was seven months later after scientific and forensic examination before Durrand was arrested.
In a police interview, he denied all knowledge of the rucksack and its contents.
His defence solicitor advocate Shahid Latif said he would reserve his comments until after a background report had been prepared.
Sentenace was deferred to May 5.
