A drug trafficker who was caught with more than £120,000 of heroin and cocaine destined for onward supply to street dealers was jailed today.
A court heard that James Townsley had almost two kilos of cocaine and a further kilo of heroin and if the haul had been bulked out with adulterants the value would have been even higher.
Prosecutor David Dickson said Townsley was “a distributor” of the drugs, supplying them to lower-level dealers for sale on the street.
Townsley, 32, formerly of North Anderson Drive, Aberdeen, admitted being concerned in the supply of both Class A drugs between November 30 last year and January 27 this year at Craigievar Terrace and Willowpark Crescent in the city.
Mr Dickson told the High Court in Edinburgh that Townsley had been using an address in Craigievar Terrace “as a warehouse for the drugs and adulterants”.
Fingerprint found on drugs
Armed with a drugs search warrant, police turned up at the house which was occupied by another person on November 30 last year.
The occupier told them: “People have been using my stuff. There might be some stuff in the cupboard.”
Cocaine was found in a kitchen cabinet and heroin was recovered from a hall cupboard along with eight bottles of liquid ammonia, which can be used to turn cocaine into highly addictive crack cocaine.
A further kilo of cocaine was discovered in a supermarket carrier bag, along with nearly half a kilo of crack cocaine. Heroin and quantities of the adulterants caffeine and paracetamol were also recovered.
Townsley’s fingerprint was found on one of the bags that contained drugs.
Mr Dickson said that on January 27 this year plainclothes police were on patrol at Willowpark Crescent when they saw him walking towards his home.
Previous conviction for dealing
The advocate depute said: “He appeared to be holding a packet close to his chest under his jacket.
“Officers approached the accused and, on identifying themselves as police officers, they observed him drop items to the ground, which had been concealed within his jumper, and made attempts to kick them away.”
A quarter of a kilo of heroin was found and almost half a kilo of cocaine.
Townsley, whose previous convictions include a jail sentence for drug dealing, was arrested and refused to comment during an interview.
Mr Dickson said the total weight of cocaine recovered was 1.976kg, which was worth £63,900. A further 1.177kg of heroin was seized, which was worth up to £62,600.
He said that if the drugs were adulterated further and divided up into street deals the value would be higher.
The judge, Lord Summers, adjourned sentence on Townsley until later this week and he was remanded in custody.
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