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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Drugs members jailed for 25 years | Drugs members jailed for 25 years |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Four people have been jailed for 25 years for their roles in bringing heroin worth millions into Scotland. | |
| Iain McDonald, 46, from Inverurie, was jailed for nine years, and Stephen Madden, 50, from Newmachar, was jailed for six years and nine months. | |
| Paul Fox, 45, from Torquay, received five years and three months, and Alison Wilkie, 41, from Dundee, was jailed for three years and nine months. | |
| It is thought they brought heroin worth millions into Aberdeen and Perth. | It is thought they brought heroin worth millions into Aberdeen and Perth. |
| Officers seized a total 5.5kg of heroin, with a potential street value of more than £500,000, and more than £64,000 in cash. | |
| This operation was targeted on persons believed to be heavily involved, and for great profit, in this trade Iain McSporranAdvocate depute | |
| They were arrested last October as a result of an intelligence-led operation, codenamed Hawk, led by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) alongside Grampian Police and Tayside Police. | |
| Lady Dorian told McDonald at the High Court in Edinburgh, where they admitted their roles: "You were significantly involved in the large scale supply, sale and distribution of drugs between Liverpool and Grampian." | |
| Advocate depute Iain McSporran said information indicated that Madden was McDonald's main sub-dealer. | |
| Mr McSporran said: "The court will be only too aware of the extent of the heroin problem in Aberdeen and the connection between organised crime groups in England and those in Aberdeen. | |
| "This operation was targeted on persons believed to be heavily involved, and for great profit, in this trade." | |
| 'Devastating impact' | 'Devastating impact' |
| The judge said it was accepted that Wilkie had been involved at a lower level than the others. | |
| But she added: "You were involved in the storage of drugs for onward supply and facilitation of packaging of such drugs." | |
| Det Ch Supt Gavin Robertson, crime co-ordinator at the SCDEA said: "The SCDEA welcomes the news that justice has been served on these individuals and that their self-seeking pursuit of power and profit through the supply of heroin has been brought to an end. | Det Ch Supt Gavin Robertson, crime co-ordinator at the SCDEA said: "The SCDEA welcomes the news that justice has been served on these individuals and that their self-seeking pursuit of power and profit through the supply of heroin has been brought to an end. |
| "Drugs bring fear, intimidation and violence to our communities, but the members of this organised crime group went about building their illegal enterprise with no regard for the devastating impact on people living in Scotland. | "Drugs bring fear, intimidation and violence to our communities, but the members of this organised crime group went about building their illegal enterprise with no regard for the devastating impact on people living in Scotland. |
| "Today's result demonstrates that law enforcement is committed to working together to detect, dismantle and punish criminal gangs and prevent their harmful commodities from ever reaching the streets." | "Today's result demonstrates that law enforcement is committed to working together to detect, dismantle and punish criminal gangs and prevent their harmful commodities from ever reaching the streets." |