POLICE recovered more than 80 ‘slabs’ of cannabis resin worth tens of thousands of pounds in a forced entry raid on a Greenock drug den.

Plastic bags containing large quantities of the illegal substance were found as officers conducted an intelligence-led swoop on the flat at Belville Street.

Dealer Dylan McFadyen, 22, is facing the prospect of Christmas in prison after pleading guilty on indictment to being concerned in the supply of the drug.

Prosecutor Joanne Gilmour told the town’s sheriff court that the quantity of resin seized during the operation had a potential street value of £22,680.

Fiscal depute Ms Gilmour said: “Police attended at the locus with a search warrant and entry to the property was forced.

“A search commenced and 81 slabs of cannabis resin were recovered.”

McFadyen was originally charged with a string of alleged drugs offences along with former co-accused Dee-Ann Knox, 24, but her not guilty pleas were accepted by the Crown.

His denials to allegations of cocaine and diazepam possession at the flat were also accepted.

The court heard that three separate packages of cannabis resin — weighing 173.8 grams, 96.2 grams and 61.9 grams — were seized during the police raid on February 15.

Ms Gilmour said: “The accused was detained and taken to Greenock police office where he was interviewed and made full and frank admissions.

“He was then cautioned and charged and made no reply.” 

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher said that college student McFadyen had recently completed a course in bricklaying and landscaping, adding that he had a ‘relatively short’ criminal record at justice of the peace court level.

Mr Gallagher said: “He has never suffered detention or prison before and has been on bail on this matter since February 16.

“I will reserve what I have to say in mitigation until a background report is prepared.”

Sheriff Derek Hamilton deferred sentence and said: “Bail will be continued meantime.”

McFadyen — formerly of Belville Street but currently bailed to a relative’s address at Kilcreggan View — is due to be sentenced on December 12.