A drugs courier has been jailed for three years and eight months after he was caught with high-purity heroin worth up to £100,000 under a seat in his car.
John Paul McCormack was snared after police were tipped off that he would be arriving in Dundee along with an associate in possession of drugs being shipped in from Glasgow.
Jobless McCormack, who has previous convictions for assault and possession of cocaine, was spotted in the black Volkswagen Golf around 4pm on February 3 this year.
Police officers saw him shoving two packages under the front seat as they approached.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told Dundee Sheriff Court the heroin he was found with was almost twice as strong as that normally found in Tayside.
She said: “The vehicle was searched and two brown packages were found under the front seat.
“The packages contained a total of 503.4 grames of heroin valued at £50,340 if divided into ‘tenner’ bags,” she said.
“However, the purity was 19% twice as pure as the average heroin in Tayside.
“It would be capable of being bulked out with a maximum street value of up to £100,000.”
McCormack, 30, of Curzon Street, Glasgow, pleaded guilty on indictment to being concerned in the supply of drugs on February 3 this year.
Craig Grimes, defending, said: “He is aware of the likely ultimate disposal in this case.
“He is the main carer for his parents and arrangements will have to be made for them.”
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael imposed a jail term of three years and eight months.