A drug dealer who tried to help a crime gang release almost £100,000 worth of cocaine into Scotland was caught red-handed twice in the space of four months.
Roofer Gareth Speirs had a side line dealing Class A drugs for an organised crime gang and was distributing it in various parts of Scotland.
Glasgow-based Speirs, 44, was caught after a surveillance operation was set up in Inverness.
Police had received a tip-off and Speirs was spotted with a bag of cocaine at a BP filling station in Longman Road.
Just months later, police received more information Speirs had left his home again to spread cocaine and a watch was set up in Dundee.
He was caught again, with more than twice as much cocaine as he had in Inverness.
Caught twice
Speirs, of Lamont Road, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine to others in Inverness on January 12 2018 and in Dundee on May 18 2018.
He admitted the offence was aggravated by a link to organised crime.
Fiscal depute Michael Dunlop told Dundee Sheriff Court: “He was single and residing with his parents at the time. He is a roofer.
“Intelligence was received by Police Scotland that a civilian was about to source drugs from the accused.
“Officers began surveillance at the BP filling station.
“A person met with the accused and he left with a carrier bag.
“The bag contained 229 grams of cocaine and the accused’s DNA was found on an inner zip.”
Mr Dunlop told the court if the high purity cocaine was adulterated to normal levels and sold in £50 deals it had a potential value of £31,650.
He went on: “On 18 May intelligence was received that another civilian was about to source drugs from the accused.
“Officers saw a civilian leave the accused’s car in Forth Crescent, Dundee.”
He said the package on this occasion had a potential value of £63,700 and added the Crown accepted Speirs’ role was limited to the two days he was caught.
Sentencing
Sheriff Martin-Brown previously granted Speirs bail but warned him a “custodial sentence was realistic.”
She decided against it when he appeared for sentencing in Dundee this week.
She placed Speirs under a restriction of liberty order for 45 weeks.
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