A GREENOCK cocaine dealer had white powder ‘everywhere’ in his living room when police battered their way into his drug den home in a dawn raid.

Andrew Cree — who sparked the forced entry swoop by not responding to a knock on his door — was grabbed as hot water ran into a sink containing the Class A narcotic.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard how officers believed that the 30-year-old was attempting to exit the Balmore Road property through an open window as they got to him.

Prosecutor Pamela Brady said: “Some police went to the back of the property while others knocked on the front door.

“There was no response.

“One officer went to force entry and saw a person moving within, as well as water running in the kitchen sink.

“The officer shouted for the tap to be turned off and entry to the property was forced.

“The accused was seen in the rear bedroom and the window was open. It was thought that he was preparing to exit the house.

“Police took hold of him and detained him.

“There was white powder within the kitchen sink and the hot water tap was running.”

The court heard how a search revealed ‘numerous quantities of bags containing white powder’, six of which were in the living room.

There were also rolled up £20 notes which had white residue, and blood at a corner of one of them.

Fiscal depute Mrs Brady said: “Effectively there was white powder everywhere within the living room.”

The prosecutor added: “During a search of the kitchen various quantities of zip lock bags were found, some of which had white powder.

“There was also a sieve with white powder.

“Tupperware boxes and a spoon had white powder residue on them.

“Further bags of white powder were found behind the kick plate of the cooker.”

Police carried out the raid at 6.40am on September 23 last year.

Around 80 grams of cocaine with a street value of £3,000 was found as well as a ‘significant amount’ of white-coloured caffeine powder.

Various quantities of cash totalling £1,190 were found in locations within the house.

Defence lawyer Tony Callaghan said: “Mr Cree has no previous convictions of any kind.”

Sheriff David Hall deferred sentence for a background report and electronic tagging assessment and continued Cree’s bail.
The matter is due to call again on August 29.