Police have pledged to make life “as inhospitable and hostile” as possible for drug gangs in Tayside.
They spoke as four men were jailed for a total of 16 years for trying to bring heroin worth £200,000 into Dundee.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that a drugs gang was trying to move heroin from Glasgow to Dundee when they were intercepted by police.
Judge Lady Scott told Niki Hunter, 31, of Cassidy Walk, Dundee, that he had clearly been in charge of the Dundee end of the operation.
She jailed him for six-and-a-half years, telling him he had “a far more serious record” than his co-accused and his position was aggravated by being on bail for another drugs matter.
Hunter and Sean Massey, 22, of Craigievar Walk, Dundee, had earlier been found guilty of being concerned in the supply of the drug on November 15 last year at the city’s Tranent Walk.
Massey was jailed for three-and-a-half years for his part in the operation.
Co-accused courier Raymond Cossar, 27, of Cottar Street, Glasgow, and Sean Campbell, 25, of Findhorn Street, Dundee, were each jailed for three years after earlier admitting their involvement.
Police Scotland’s Tayside division said the sentences sent the clear message to those involved in peddling drugs that they would be caught and punished for their crimes.
Temporary Detective Inspector Scott Thompson said: “As a result of our intelligence-led operation, these four people will not be at liberty to profit from the misery of others for some time.
“The net result is that we have disrupted the activities of serious and organised criminals and lessened their impact on our communities.
“Police Scotland is determined to tackle the scourge of drugs. The people we serve tell us that it is a priority for them and year-on-year we make it a top priority for us in our efforts to keep people safe.
“In this case, we have prevented two kilos of heroin £200,000 worth from reaching our communities.
“We will use everything at our disposal to make life as inhospitable and hostile as we possibly can for those who deal in drugs. They are not welcome and through our close collaboration with partner agencies and the tremendous assistance that we get from the public we will continue to target them.”
DI Thompson said nobody should have to tolerate drug dealing where they live, but the police needed people to provide them with information to assist their investigations.
“What you tell us could be the precious piece information of evidence we need to take action,” he said.
Lady Scott told the men: “This offence involved a relatively simple purchase and supply of a substantial amount of the Class A drug heroin.”
It had been a serious crime because of the amount and value of drugs involved. Although none of the accused could be described as at the higher end of the supply chain, there was no alternative to custodial sentences.
Lady Scott said Massey acted as a look-out on Hunter’s instructions and Campbell was carrying the money for payment. She told Massey she accepted he was very much “the foot soldier” and said the offence was “out of character” for
Campbell.
The judge told Cossar that in giving evidence he appeared eager to minimise his responsibility and showed “no genuine signs of remorse.”
Cossar’s defence counsel Louise Arroll said he understood he was acting as a courier for drugs but did not know what drug was in the packages. He was to take them to Dundee in his mother’s car for a handover in exchange for money which was to be returned to the west of Scotland.
Ms Arroll said her client had been offered “the opportunity to make some money” which he thought was a way to supplement benefits he was receiving and his involvement had been at a low level.
Jim Stephenson, solicitor advocate for Massey, said he was a father of three young children who worked as a scaffolder mostly in the Aberdeen area.
Chris Fyffe, for father-of-three Hunter, said he has had a considerable time to reflect on his previous lifestyle and recognised he had to make changes.
Di Moore, counsel for Campbell, said that his involvement in the offence was to deliver money to a car, adding: “He has advised that his motivation was purely financial, his benefits having been halted for a four-week period.”