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Jail for £4.2m cocaine smuggler Jail for £4.2m cocaine smuggler
(30 minutes later)
A lorry driver who admitted smuggling £4.2m worth of cocaine from France to Scotland has been jailed.A lorry driver who admitted smuggling £4.2m worth of cocaine from France to Scotland has been jailed.
Police caught Cameron McFarlane, 48, from Alloa in Clackmannanshire, with the haul on the M80 near Falkirk in October last year.Police caught Cameron McFarlane, 48, from Alloa in Clackmannanshire, with the haul on the M80 near Falkirk in October last year.
At the High Court in Paisley, he was jailed for five years and four months.At the High Court in Paisley, he was jailed for five years and four months.
The self-employed HGV driver said he had transported the 15 blocks of cocaine to pay off his debts to a criminal gang.The self-employed HGV driver said he had transported the 15 blocks of cocaine to pay off his debts to a criminal gang.
He told police he owed the cash following a previous two-year jail term for attempting to bring 50,000 cigarettes into the UK.He told police he owed the cash following a previous two-year jail term for attempting to bring 50,000 cigarettes into the UK.
The cocaine he was carrying was about seven times purer than that normally found in central Scotland, and had an estimated street value of £4.2m. The cocaine he was carrying was about seven times more pure than that normally found in central Scotland, and had an estimated street value of £4.2m.
'Knowing participant' Regrettably while I understand your predicament, what you did was wrong Judge Lord Brailsford
Police searchers found large blocks of the drug hidden in McFarlane's pillow and stuffed into a microwave in his truck's cab.Police searchers found large blocks of the drug hidden in McFarlane's pillow and stuffed into a microwave in his truck's cab.
Sentencing McFarlane, Lord Brailsford said this could not excuse his crime. Sentencing McFarlane, judge Lord Brailsford said he could not excuse his crime.
He said: "You had been involved in this activity on two previous occasions when you were caught.He said: "You had been involved in this activity on two previous occasions when you were caught.
"I accept the question of the circumstances which were that you became involved in this matter because of a debt incurred to a criminal fraternity."I accept the question of the circumstances which were that you became involved in this matter because of a debt incurred to a criminal fraternity.
"Regrettably while I understand your predicament, what you did was wrong."Regrettably while I understand your predicament, what you did was wrong.
"Because that debt was being reduced by these drugs runs, this is a case where there was benefit to you in relation to these matters and you were a knowing participant in this criminal activity.""Because that debt was being reduced by these drugs runs, this is a case where there was benefit to you in relation to these matters and you were a knowing participant in this criminal activity."
'Vital link'
He described the haul as a "very significant amount of drugs".He described the haul as a "very significant amount of drugs".
At the time of the seizure on 10 October, Central Scotland Police hailed it as the largest ever made in the force's area.At the time of the seizure on 10 October, Central Scotland Police hailed it as the largest ever made in the force's area.
They also seized Russian roubles worth about £750.They also seized Russian roubles worth about £750.
Assistant Chief Constable Gordon McKenzie said: "These drugs blight communities through people misusing them, the crime which is committed to pay for them and other associated anti-social behaviour.
"In this instance, a significant quantity of Class A drugs were prevented from hitting communities in Central Scotland and elsewhere.
"Couriers are a vital link in the chain and hopefully anyone engaged in this activity will think twice as a result of the outcome of this case."
McFarlane will face a further court hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act in Edinburgh on Monday.McFarlane will face a further court hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act in Edinburgh on Monday.