Perth police disrupted a £50,000 heroin operation following a probe into a county lines dealer.
Officers set their sights on bricklayer Steven Dougan following a tip-off that he was trying to flood the area with class A drugs.
The 32-year-old was caught red-handed with a bag of heroin and a wad of cash while parked in a Fair City neighbourhood.
After his arrest, investigators swooped on his home near Falkirk and uncovered even more drug packages and paraphernalia.
Dougan appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin on September 10, last year, at the city’s Newhouse Road and at his home address in Larbert.
The court heard he had put his affairs in order, handed in his notice and told his stepson that “he’s going to prison today.”
Police search
Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie told the court: “Police were in receipt of intelligence that the accused was due to be driving to the Perth area in a Vauxhall Corsa for the purpose of transporting drugs.
“At about 8.15pm, police observed the vehicle parked on a street off Crieff Road.
“The accused was in the driver’s seat.
“He and the vehicle were transferred to Dundee police office for a search to take place.”
Officers recovered £860 cash from the passenger footwell, as well as a 252g bag of heroin.
“At this time, the accused was informed he was under arrest,” said Ms Ritchie.
“Police then craved a search warrant for the accused’s home address.
“Officers went to the property later that night.”
They recovered kitchen scales, a blender with traces of drugs and five knotted bags filled with brown powder.
The packages were later analysed and confirmed to be around 1,125g of heroin.
“A DNA sample was taken from the accused,” said the prosecutor.
“The accused’s DNA was found on the knots of each bag.”
Valuations
The court heard three bags found together in Dougan’s home were potentially worth up to £19,500.
A 221g bag with a higher purity rating was worth about £18,000.
The fifth package was valued at £3,400.
Ms Ritchie said the 252g bag taken from Dougan’s car had a street value of between £4,500 and £6,500.
The crown has requested to forfeit the cash.
A solicitor for Dougan told the court: “That is obviously not opposed.”
He said: “Mr Dougan has never served a custodial sentence.
“But he is entirely realistic about the outcome of this matter.
“He has got his affairs in order, quit his job and advised his stepson that he is going to prison today.”
Sheriff Euan Duthie remanded Dougan and deferred sentence for background reports until December 12.
