An organised crime gang’s bid to flood Perth with tens of thousands of pounds worth of heroin has been smashed following a police sting.
Two county line dealers from Liverpool were caught red-handed following a seven-month surveillance operation at locations in and around the Fair City.
A 36-year-old local man was also involved in the illegal enterprise.
Investigators recovered a stash of heroin and £7,000 in cash, which was left under bushes at woods near Inveralmond.
They watched one suspect make a frantic phone call to another dealer when he found the cache had gone missing.
Max Donovan, a Hermes delivery driver from Liverpool, and Perth man George Crone, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted being involved in the supply of heroin at locations around the city.
Blayne Gray, also from Liverpool, has also pled guilty and will appear in court for sentencing next month.
They have been warned prison is “inevitable”.
Stashed heroin and cash under bushes
Fiscal depute Lora Apostolova said Police Scotland received intelligence Gray, 23, was involved in the supply of drugs in the Perth area.
He was placed under surveillance in March 2020.
The court heard how undercover officers watched Gray being driven in a Land Rover Discovery at Inveralmond Retail Park.
He was seen getting out of the car, carrying a black rucksack, and walking along a path on the north side of the River Almond.
At one point, he opened his bag and took out a pair of binoculars, which he used to scan his surroundings.
A short time later, he returned to another vehicle and was driven away from the scene.
Ms Apostolova said police went to the area where Gray had been standing and found a Tupperware box under a bush.
It contained about 168g of heroin and £7,000 in cash, separated into four bundles.
Ran when police arrived
Later that day, Gray returned to the scene.
Ms Apostolova said: “He was seen to attend at the exact location where the controlled drugs were recovered.
“He appeared to be searching for the stashed location.”
She said: “He was then observed making an animated phone call.
“Evidence shows that he was in contact with Mr Donovan.”
Gray walked to Inveralmond Retail Park and got into a car.
When police approached, he tried to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended.
He was found to be carrying £2,000 in cash.
The court heard that during the operation, Donovan was monitored getting into a Ford Focus at Glenshee Crescent, carrying a drawstring bag.
When he left the car he no longer had the bag with him, Ms Apostolova said.
Police later stopped the vehicle and the bag was retrieved.
It contained £33,400.
Police operation continues
Months later, on September 23, Donovan was seen at Crone’s home in Newhouse Road.
He had a black holdall and a yellow bag.
Donovan and Crone got into an orange Suzuki Swift and drove out of the street.
Ms Apostolova said police swooped on the car when it stopped at traffic lights on Oakbank Road, near the Glasgow Road junction.
More than 1,600g of heroin was found in the yellow bag.
The court heard the drugs had a street value of around £65,000.
Ms Apostolova said the total amount of money seized during all operations was just over £48,400.
The charges
Sheriff William Wood told Crone and Donovan: “What is clear is that you were both involved in the supply of drugs of a significant scale.
“In the circumstances, a custodial sentence is inevitable.”
All three admitted being involved in the supply of heroin.
Gray, of Culme Road, Liverpool, pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of illegal drugs on March 18 and 19, at woods near Almond Bridge and Inveralmond Retail Park.
Crone, 36, of Newhouse Road, Perth, admitted his role between September 10 and 23, 2020, at his home address and Oakbank Road.
Donovan, 24, of Cottesbrook Road, Liverpool, pled guilty to his involvement between February 18 and September 23, at River Almond, Oakbank Road and elsewhere.
He further admitted that during the same period, having received criminal property – cash – he concealed and transferred it at The Lade, River Almond, Glengarry Road and on the M9 near Stirling.
All three will be sentenced on February 17.
