By Bruce Robbins

POLICE LAST night claimed a Dundee solicitor’s criticism of tactics used in their high-profile drugs crackdown was proof of its success.

Solicitor Gary McIlravey told the sheriff court yesterday, as the first of those arrested in connection with drug trafficking appeared before a sheriff, that Operation Waterloo seemed to have caught those at the bottom of the drug dealing chain and not the “high rollers.”

Mr McIlravey was speaking in defence of his client, 25-year-old Dean David Johnston, of Arklay Street, who admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin in the Hilltown area on June 17.

He was the first of 13 to appear at the sheriff court and they are expected to be followed by another five on Monday after further swoops in Hilltown and Stobswell yesterday.

The man in charge of the crackdown, Detective Chief Inspector Willie Semple, said “street dealers” were precisely the people they were targeting.

He said, “It’s these people who are supplying directly to individuals who are dying of overdoses or committing volume crime and much of the anti-social behaviour we see on the streets.

“The operation set out to target that level of drug dealer to deliberately disrupt their activities. It recognises the scale of heroin distribution in Dundee and the knock-on effect that these street dealers are having directly on drug users such as prostitutes and people who are committing robberies and break-ins and anti-social acts such as discarding needles.”

DCI Semple, head of CID, revealed for the first time yesterday that undercover officers posing as drug users were responsible for some arrests.

Overall, around 50 officers are involved in the raids, the culmination of weeks of intelligence gathering by the force.

Police have been keen to keep the tactics employed in Operation Waterloo under wraps but details of the covert operations emerged in court.

DCI Semple added, “We will continue to deploy as wide a range of policing tactics as possible.

“From today’s activities we have arrested a further five persons who will be going to court on Monday morning for various drugs offences. Inquiries are still continuing into other individuals.

“That brings the total number of people arrested during Operation Waterloo to 18. We’re very happy with what we have achieved to date.

“High-profile foot patrols will continue in the Hilltown and Stobswell parts of Dundee.”

Mr McIlravey told the court yesterday Dean Johnston gave his own drugs to an undercover policewoman because she looked so “awful” that he thought she was suffering from heroin withdrawal symptoms.

Depute fiscal Edward Russell said two undercover officers in Hilltown asked Johnston if he knew where heroin was available.

Johnston said he did not know anyone but said he had a “score bag” on him and the inquirer could have it and he would get more for himself.

He proffered the bag to the undercover policewoman and she and her colleague were under the impression he was “rattling”—withdrawing. The bag was 40% pure and weighed 0.19g.

Mr McIlravey said it appeared as if Operation Waterloo had not picked up the “high rollers” but people like Johnston.

This was not the normal type of supply—Johnston had felt sorry for the woman, judging from her appearance that she was suffering withdrawal. Sentence was deferred for reports until August 5 and Johnston was released on bail.

Another of those arrested, Lorraine Jackson (35), whose last known address was Burnside Mill, Milnes East Wynd, admitted that she was concerned in the supply of heroin on June 24 in Macdonald Street.

The court was told that this was a similar case and involved 0.35g of heroin worth £20. The same two policewomen met her and asked if she knew where drugs could be obtained.

She used one of the officers’ mobile phones to call someone. They all went off in a taxi to an address and Jackson handed over two wraps after being paid.

Mr McIlravey said Jackson did not take part in the deal. He said once the drugs were given to the officers they gave some to Jackson by way of payment.

He submitted that adding to the habit of someone like Jackson, who would do anything to feed her addiction, was “scraping the bottom of the barrel.” She was remanded in custody until July 24 for reports.

The next case involved an alcoholic dealing in heroin. Victor John Duncan (34), of Butterburn Court, admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin on June 26 in Butterburn Court.

Acting on a tip-off, police went to Butterburn Court at around 9.50am. They buzzed Duncan’s flat, asked to come up and were allowed in.

On the eighth floor, they found a woman at Duncan’s door, knocking and shouting his name. Duncan was cross with the woman for bringing stran-gers to his door but she denied this. The woman asked for and got two £20 bags of heroin.

After the money was handed over, the undercover officers asked if they could have some but Duncan said he had just sold his last two bags. There was no recovery of drugs at his house.

Mr McIlravey said Duncan was not an addict but an alcoholic with a low level of dealing.

Sheriff Elizabeth Munro said the charge was serious because it was the kind of thing that caused Dundee to have such a problem with heroin. She said she was considering sending Duncan to jail and deferred sentence until July 24.

Three other people appeared in private accused of being concerned in the supply of heroin between April 3 and July 3. Steven Finlay (29), of The Pines; Fiona Robertson (36), of Finella Terrace and Paul Roger Webster (34), of Traquair Gardens, made no plea or declaration and were released on bail while the case was continued for further inquiry.