A middle man in a drugs chain masterminded by a Manchester-based gang supplying narcotics to the Highlands was jailed for three years yesterday.
Matthew Wilson, a 35-year-old father-of-three from Bruce Avenue, Dingwall was described as a company director who was a habitual cannabis user.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told he had run up £15,000 in debts as a result of his habit and was recruited by the gang.
Fiscal Roderick Urquhart told Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood that Wilson, who admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis and cocaine connected to serious organised crime, was not initially a suspect but came to police interest as a result of police surveillance.
He added: “On March 19, 2015, was seen walking towards Tulloch Court, Dingwall with a green Co-op carrier bag.
“A few minutes later he was seen walking away from Tulloch Court no longer carrying the green plastic bag.”
Mr Urquhart said police saw a car at the same time in Tulloch Court and the driver appeared to conceal an item in the boot.
“He then drove away and it was subsequently stopped by police near Perth and searched.
“Bags contained money totalling £26,250.”
Wilson then became part of the surveillance and in April police saw a suspicious car outside Wilson’s address which was later stopped
and found to contain £29,185 in cash.
“Police then searched Wilson’s house and found bags of cannabis and cocaine worth between almost £10,000 and £20,000.
“When interviewed by police, Wilson said he was involved in the supplying of cannabis and cocaine; was in debt to the extent of £15000 which he was paying off by selling drugs.
“He added that he was a middle man in the chain and a person would bring him the drugs from England and he would pass them on to others.”
Defence lawyer Marc Dickson said: “There were threats to his family and he had no option but to comply. He has now put his drug use behind him.”