Jail for drug runner caught with heroin

Six years and nine months for father-of-three

A Coatbridge drugs courier has been jailed after he was caught transporting heroin with a potential street value of up to £200,000.

Police stopped James Duffy as he travelled northbound on the M6 near Carlisle on May 2.

The 46-year-old father-ofthree was last week sentenced to six years and nine months by Judge Barbara Forrester.

Brendan Burke, prosecuting, told Carlisle Crown Court that Duffy was seen driving a Mercedes at around 11.30am.

Mr Burke said: “In [ the officers’] view he was travelling at excessive speed whilst using a mobile phone.

“Almost immediately the police formed the view that he was being more furtive, fidgety and distressed than one would expect for anyone pulled over for speeding and using a phone.”

Two packages of heroin, with an average 50 per cent purity, were found hidden under some musical equipment in the vehicle.

A drugs expert later concluded “conservatively” the 1kg stash could have been adulterated with bulking agents to double that weight.

This could have given an illegal haul with a potential value ranging from £100,000 up to £200,000.

Duffy – also found in possession of £ 1050 in Scottish notes – told police he had transported drugs on a number of other occasions during the preceding fortnight.

“I understand that this consignment may not have been intended for the Cumbria market,” said Mr Burke, who stated: “It was headed for Scotland.”

The prosecutor added: “This is an immensely valuable consignment.

“Rather than just being a driver, the inference from the cash is that he is at the sharp end, swapping money for drugs in Liverpool.”

Paul Tweddle, defending, said Duffy, of Mossneuk Street, had previous convictions for dissimilar crimes – but nothing since 2008.

Duffy, a self- employed vehicle salesman and mecha n i c , admitted possession of heroin with intent to supply.

“He is a family man. He has spent his time productively in custody, learning new skills,” Mr Tweddle said of the defendant’s time on remand.

“He understands that he is likely to serve a lengthy prison sentence.”

Judge Forrester told him: “You were trusted, obviously, to carry that amount of drugs in your car, and cash as well.”