A drug dealer’s home was raided after an off-duty policeman overheard him attempting to make a sale in a hotel bar.
Darren Maclean, 39, offered to sell someone cocaine and told them there was more at his home if it was needed – totally oblivious that the officer was eavesdropping on his conversation.
The quick-thinking cop called his colleagues, who secured a warrant to search Maclean’s property, and they uncovered cannabis and cocaine worth almost £6,000.
Maclean, of Heathmount Road, Kyle of Lochalsh, pled guilty to one charge of possessing cocaine with intent to supply and a second of possessing cannabis at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Fiscal depute David Morton told the court that on June 2 2019 a police officer local to the Kyle of Lochalsh was off duty within the Nor-West Hotel.
Officer ‘overheard drug deal’
He said: “He overheard a drug deal taking place. He overheard Mr Maclean offering to sell another male a quantity of cocaine.
“He indicated he had further at his home address is more was required.”
On hearing this, the officer contacted colleagues and a warrant was obtained for Mr Maclean’s property, which was then searched.
The search recovered 465 grams of cannabis and two balls of cocaine, each weighing just over 27 grams.
Mr Morton told the court that, under interview, Maclean admitted ownership of all of the items, including the cannabis, cocaine and £2010 cash, but made no comment to questions put to him concerning the supplying of a controlled drug.
Drugs value estimated at £5,900
The fiscal depute told the court that the cannabis resin recovered had a value of around £500. If sold in gram deals, each of the two balls of cocaine found would realise up to £2700.
Sheriff Sara Matheson deferred sentencing to next month for the production of reports.
She granted a motion for forfeiture of the cash recovered at Maclean’s home, which was unopposed by defence solicitor Clare Russell.
