£300k drug deal man jailed

David Moroney • Published 1 Jul 2009 14:00

A GREENOCK man has been jailed for six years for his involvement in a £300,000 cannabis deal.

Robert McShane, 25, was arrested along with Paul Kelly during a police swoop on a pub car park.

Detectives seized 25 kilograms of cannabis with a street value of £324,000 from the pair, who were caught in a car parked at the Pullman Tavern in Kilmacolm.

The raid was part of Operation Salute, a long-running Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) operation.

McShane, of Westmorland Road, admitted being concerned in the supply of the drug.

Kelly, 24, from Nethercraigs Drive, Paisley, was found guilty of the charge after a trial.

McShane was jailed for six years and Kelly for five as they appeared at the High Court in Glasgow for sentencing on Monday.

Judge Lord McEwan said "careful police work" had thwarted the operation and added that the courts had to take a "serious view".

McShane"s lawyer said the dad, who has previous convictions for possession of cocaine, had got involved after running up a drug debt. Defence lawyer John Hamilton added: 'He was in a relationship and that broke down. He turned to drink and drugs.

'He fell in with people he thought were giving hospitality by giving him cocaine

for his own use, but he was ultimately presented with a bill. He had no money to pay it.

'He was asked to do a single run on a single occasion, and was told the debt would be wiped out and that was what he did.'

Kelly"s counsel Joseph Barr said the heating engineer had made a "very bad and uncharacteristic mistake" that day.

Mr Barr added: 'He did have a cocaine habit. That was mainly focused at weekends.'

The tough sentences were welcomed by the authorities.

Detective Chief Superintendent Gavin Robertson, of the SCDEA, said: 'These individuals were found in possession of a significant amount of cannabis, which

continues to be the most widely used illegal drug in Scotland.

'Every arrest and conviction of a drug dealer is significant and Scotland"s communities benefit from the respite such actions bring.'

Detective Superintendent Andrew Ronald added: 'Strathclyde Police works very closely with the SCDEA and,

in this operation, a large amount of cannabis resin was successfully removed form the streets.

'Illegal drugs cause misery in many communities, but this latest sentence should send a very strong message to drug dealers and remind them they are in our sights.

'We will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to stem the flow of dangerous drugs to our communities.'

Earlier this month, a 58-year-old man from Dalmilling in South Ayrshire was sentenced to two years in prison for the supply of cocaine after he was arrested as part of the same operation.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 01 Jul 09

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