A man who became involved with a major Highland drugs gang has been ordered to hand over more than £7,000 to prosecutors under proceeds of crime legislation.
Ryan Ross, 28, was part of an operation that flooded the Highlands with narcotics, run by former footballer Alasdair Finlayson, 26.
The operation used “stash sites” in wooded areas in the countryside to hide drugs, cash and bulking agents to cut the cocaine.
High Court in Edinburgh heard the illegal enterprise was uncovered after Scottish police began assisting counterparts from south of the border over suspected English drug dealers
Scottish officers watched a series of meetings between “persons of interest to the English authorities” and Highland locals.
Police discovered a site at Fyrish, near Alness, where clumps of moss had been moved to create a hideout for drugs, cash, gloves, scales and bulking agents.
Further drugs, including a haul of high-purity cocaine, were also found in searches of woods at Munlochy on the Black Isle and off the Glenglass Road in Evanton.
The High Court in Glasgow was previously told Ryan Ross, of Gateside, Balintore, Tain, spoke about bank transfers and cash payments as well as a conversation with Finlayson about keeping phones “squeaky clean”.
His bank account was also investigated and found to have money transferred in and out from people involved in the sale or supply of drugs.
Cash was ‘criminal property’
He was ordered to carry out 300 hours unpaid work under a community payback order.
He was also fined £2,000 after admitting a proceeds of crime offence by acquiring and having possession of sums of cash that were criminal property between July 13 and August 6 in 2020.
Lawyers at the High Court in Edinburgh agreed that Ross made £9,085.00 from his life of crime. But the court was told he now only has £7,485.00 available.
Prosecutor Dan Byrne asked Lord Weir to make an order compelling him to hand the cash over.
At proceedings earlier this year, Finlayson was linked to the cocaine and cannabis seized during a police operation, which recovered drugs worth with a potential street value of more than £650,000.
Judge Simon Collins KC gave Finlayson a nine-year jail term.
He added: “You were in charge and actively involved in a substantial drug dealing operation.”
Judge Collins told him that he would have faced a 10-year prison sentence for the offences, but for his guilty pleas.
Finlayson had earlier admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis between January and August 2020.
The judge was told that Finlayson was assessed as the individual in charge after he was found to have travelled between sites and sold drugs.
Debts and threatening messages
But the Crown accepted he had built up debts to those higher up in organised crime and had received threatening messages over the debts.
Defence solicitor advocate James Keegan KC, for Finlayson, said he had played football for North Caledonian side Alness United and went into coaching, before getting caught up in drug dealing.
Mr Keegan told the court: “It is astonishing to see such a downward spiral in a relatively short period of time.”
Co-accused Cameron Ross, 22, formerly of Cromlet Park, Invergordon, Ross-shire, was jailed for 23 months after admitting being concerned in the supply of cocaine between June 10 and 12 in 2020 at woodland off Glenglass Road, in Evanton.
A fourth man Daniel Degan, 32, of Coach House Cottages, Alness, was also fined £2,000 and ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work after admitting being concerned in the supply of cocaine on July 31 in 2020.