A convicted drug trafficker caught in Fife with laundry bags stuffed with cannabis has been jailed for six years.
Mohammed Asif, from Glenrothes, was involved during a £340,000 drugs and dirty money probe.
The 49 year-old was seen during a handover with Rigels Ugurlu, 39, in a car park in his hometown.
Asif was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.
He had earlier – along with Ugurlu – pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis between February 1 and 7 2022.
Asif separately admitted a charge of possessing criminal property.
40-year-old Ugurlu, otherwise known as Rigels Dema, was locked up for two years and eight months.
Drug deal
The court earlier heard police got a tip-off which led them to a car park near a row of shops on February 7 2022.
Asif and Ugurlu were spotted leaving their vehicles and speaking.
Ugurlu removed bags from his van and placed them in the boot of Asif’s Audi.
Police detained both men and each were found with numerous mobile phones.
Ugurlu had £710 in cash and his van contained £72,700, hidden under the passenger seat.
Officers recovered two large laundry bags of cannabis from the boot of Asif’s Audi, each weighing one kilo.
Properties raided
Asif’s property was raided and a total of £10,830 was found, as well as four further packages of cannabis from the garage.
A friend also had her property searched and told officers Asif asked her to keep a safe at her home to store money from a construction industry business.
The woman stated she was given keys but ordered not to look inside the safe.
Nine bundles of cash totalling £90,000 were found inside.
Prosecutor Paul Kearney KC said: “The manner in which the cash was bundled was exactly similar to the bundles of cash recovered from the van earlier that day.
“Together with the observations from the car park, the inference can be drawn that the money from the van was payment by Asif for cannabis subsequently recovered from the boot of his car.”
Past crimes
The hearing was told the cannabis recovered from the Audi and Asif’s garage had the potential resale value of £239,960.
The total cash recovered attributed to Asif was £100,830.
It was revealed Asif has previously been sentenced to a total of 15 years behind bars for two separate drugs offences.
Ugurlu, of Hatton Road, London, is a first offender, understood to be subject to a UK deportation order.
Crime Agency response
National Crime Agency Scotland Operations Manager Rob Miles said: “Asif and Urgurlu carried out their criminality in a public car park, swapping illegal drugs for cash in broad daylight.
“But they were unaware we were watching their every move.
“The Organised Crime Partnership will continue to tackle drug crime and ensure those involved in the illegal supply of drugs in Scotland are brought to justice.”
Detective Chief Inspector Steven Elliot of Police Scotland said: “This conviction and sentencing serves as yet another example of our ongoing commitment to target the supply and distribution of controlled drugs across Scotland, which remains an absolute priority for the Organised Crime Partnership and its partners.”
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