An Inverness drugs trafficker is facing jail after police uncovered a stash of high purity cocaine worth £25k, hidden in his campervan.
Detectives acting on a tip-off swooped on Martin Gordon’s motorhome as it travelled up the A9 in Perthshire.
They found a plastic bag of class A drugs hidden behind a secret panel above the driver’s seat.
Gordon, 54, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine on March 2 and 3 2021.
Prosecutors accepted a not guilty plea from his wife Stephanie, 50, who was with him when the van was raided.
Ten years ago, Gordon was jailed for 30 months after he was caught with cannabis with a similar value in Inverness.
Intelligence-led operation
Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie told the court: “The subject vehicle was a black Renault Master campervan, owned and operated by the accused.
“At about 2pm, the accused was travelling north along the A9.
“His wife was in the passenger seat.
“Intelligence had been received by Police Scotland that the vehicle contained a substantial quantity of class A drugs.
“At approximately 2.30pm, the vehicle was stopped by police approximately five miles north of Bruar.
“The accused was cautioned and detained.
“He was transported to Perth police office, along with the vehicle, for a search.”
The campervan was examined later that evening, the prosecutor said.
“During a systematic search of the interior of the vehicle, a plastic panel above the interior light of the cabin was found to be loose.
“It was removed and concealed within the void behind it was a package – a plastic bag containing white powder.”
Home searched
Ms Ritchie said police obtained a warrant to search the accused’s home at Aird Avenue, Inverness.
“Within the kitchen there, police recovered a sandwich bag with white powder – 0.43g of cocaine.”
The court heard the plastic bag found inside the van held nearly 250g of cocaine.
“The substance was further analysed and the purity of the cocaine was found to be not less than 72% by weight,” said Ms Ritchie.
“It was determined that this high purity cocaine could either be adulterated and sold at £30 a gram, or sold at its current purity at about £100 per gram.
“If it was sold at 72% purity it would have a maximum illicit value of about £25,000.”
Defence advocate Shahid Latif questioned the Crown’s value and said the drugs could be worth around £10,000.
Sheriff Euan Duthie deferred sentence until December for background reports.
“With some hesitation I will continue your bail,” he told Gordon.
