A drugs gang who ran a large scale heroin dealing operation across central and eastern Scotland have been sentenced to almost 50 years imprisonment between them.
Seven men have been jailed at the High Court in Glasgow for a total of 48 years, 10 months, after being found guilty of their crimes.
The sentences are the culmination of a major surveillance investigation into the drugs network, which was based out of a waste disposal company in Shotts and directed by a convicted murderer from within a prison.
Investigators used detailed analysis of mobile phones to dismantle the group and take more than £1.1 million worth of heroin off the streets.
Speaking after sentencing, Lindsey Miller, Procurator Fiscal for Organised Crime and Counter-Terrorism, said: “Today’s sentences act as a warning to criminals in Scotland that police and prosecutors are determined to bring them to justice, and Proceeds of Crime actions have now been initiated against two accused to reclaim their illegal profits.”
Stephen Nisbet , 40, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, his brother James Nisbet, 45, was sentenced to 10 years, and John McMahon, 27, was sentenced to seven years, 10 months.
Robert Borland, 35, Ronald Harrison, 52, and Allan Holland, 38, were each sentenced to five years imprisonment, while David Milne, 34, was sentenced to four years.
Many of the drug deals took place in various locations across Tayside and Fife.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Courier.