A minicab driver who made a 1,000-mile round trip to flood a Scottish city with crack cocaine has been jailed for 18 months.
Hannan Khan, 24, claimed the downturn in work caused by the pandemic lockdown had forced him to turn to dealing the Class A drug.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told Khan had driven his taxi – specially adapted to hide drugs – from London to Dundee.
He was also linked to a second car found parked in the city and a search of both vehicles ultimately recovered rocks of crack cocaine worth more than £13,000.
‘No alternative’ to prison
Sheriff Paul Brown said: “I note the mitigation in terms of how you became involved in this, your previous good character, and note that pressure was brought to bear on you.
“You had little influence on those above you in the chain of supply.
“There is immaturity involved here.
“However, this is a serious offence.
“You were trafficking a Class A drug which has, and is, having a devastating effect on communities.
“The use of your minicab is an aggravating factor.
“You had an understanding of the scale of the operation.
“There is no alternative here to a custodial sentence.”
Police tipped off about cab
Khan, from Wandsworth, admitted being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine in Dundee on 9 July last year.
Fiscal depute Gavin Burton told the court police spotted his Toyota Corolla driving around the city and followed him on the basis of a drugs tip-off.
“They activated blue lights and pulled him over.
“He was the sole occupant and was removed from the vehicle.
“They conducted a systematic search of the vehicle.
“It was noted that the electronic parts for opening the windows and adjusting the mirrors on the driver’s door were loose.”
Drugs were found hidden in the door panel.
Second car discovered
A second car linked to the accused was recovered near the Ambassador Bar and within the two vehicles, a total of almost 500 wraps were found.
Along with a stash of crack cocaine, which was still waiting to be sub-divided and individually packaged, the total haul had a street value of £13,500.
Solicitor Larry Flynn, defending, said: “He is a genuine first offender but it was a substantial quantity of drugs.
“Up until the pandemic kicking in he was in full-time employment.
“He lost his job and gets caught in a web following that.
“It is a familiar tale where someone has a debt that gets called in.
“The next thing, you are in a different country 4-500 miles north, getting involved in these activities.
“He has been open and frank and not tried to minimise his involvement.”
