A drugs trafficker was jailed for six years today after he was caught in a major police surveillance operation targeting organised crime in Scotland.
Peter McLaren was linked to consignments of cocaine in Glasgow and cannabis in Ullapool, in the Highlands, worth about pounds 250,000 on the streets.
McLaren, 48, found his business interests in difficulty and turned to crime, the High Court in Edinburgh heard.
A judge told him: “I must, in arriving at a sentence, have regard to the misery the drugs trade causes. You took a risk in becoming involved in this enterprise – a big risk.”
Lord Woolman said: “You had an important role in the drugs distribution chain. You were not a street dealer. You did not handle the drugs yourself, instead you directed the couriers.”
“You committed these offences to gain financial reward,” the judge told him.
Lord Woolman said that in determining the degree of harm caused by his offending he took account of the weight of the drugs involved rather than the value.
The half kilo of cocaine seized by police in Glasgow was of high purity and had the potential to be cut with adulterants to produce seven times that amount on the streets.
A total of 19 kilos of cannabis resin were found when officers intercepted a courier in Ullapool which was due to be transported to the Isle of Lewis.
Lord Woolman said: “The police set up an investigation into an organised drugs ring in Scotland. They named it Operation Numerical. They carried out surveillance on various individuals. intelligence from that operation led to two significant drugs finds.”
The judge added: “The police were able to link you to the drugs couriers in question.” Dozens of replica football tops were also recovered during a raid on McLaren’s home in Foresthall Drive, in Glasgow.
McLaren had earlier denied a string of drugs related charges, but his trial was brought to an end after he admitted two drugs offences.
He pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine between March 1 and 29 in 2014 at locations in Glasgow, including his home address.
He also admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis resin at his home and in Ullapool in the Highlands between July 21 and August 21 in 2014.
The court heard that McLaren was the subject of extensive covert surveillance by detectives during Operation Numerical.
He frequented various golf clubs and was regularly seen driving a blue Mercedes car and during one stop he was found to have almost pounds 15,000 in cash in a golf bag.
One officer told the court he had seen McLaren at the Dakota Hotel at South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, in the company of “a number of smartly dressed, businessmen type males”.
McLaren had later settled a bill at the venue and was seen to be in possession of a large bundle of cash.
The Crown accepted his not guilty pleas to further charges including directing serious organised crime and being concerned in the supply of heroin over a six year period up to last year.depute Jim Keegan QC told the court that proceedings have been raised to seize crime profits from McLaren.
The prosecutor said: “The accused was not operating as ‘hands on’ with the drugs but instead used a network of couriers to deliver and supply for him. This is recognised as a way of avoiding the attentions of the police.”
Mr Keegan said that evidence against McLaren was obtained by the surveillance operation and from telephones that were used.
On March 29 in 2014 one of the couriers was at the Shandwick shopping centre car park in Glasgow when detectives approached. A gift bag was was in the Mercedes A class the courier was driving and he claimed: “That’s just a Mother’s Day present.”
When officers unwrapped the gift they found a taped package containing cocaine which was found to be 72 per cent pure.
Later that year the cannabis courier, who was under police surveillance, was spotted in Ullapool with a heavy holdall and when challenged over the possession of drugs replied: “Yes, hash.”
The court heard that McLaren was a “would-be businessman” who had been unsuccessful in sustaining a number of ventures.
Defence counsel Ian Duguid QC said McLaren had been a cocaine user for a number of years and had “a point of contact” he could use to obtain quantities of illegal drugs.
He said it was “an act of complete stupidity” by McLaren to become involved in the drugs trade in an effort to keep a business alive.
The defence counsel said his kitchen firm, which employed 20 people, was in the process of going into liquidation.
Mr Duguid said: “He bitterly regrets placing himself in the situation which he finds himself in.
