Woman who fled to Bulgaria jailed

A DUNDEE woman who fled to Bulgaria from Scotland has been locked up for more than five years for drug offences and being involved in serious organised crime.

Morag Yorston, who had pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and cocaine in July last year, was sentenced to five years and 11 months in prison at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday.

The 55-year-old was one of 17 people arrested during Operation Boost – a joint Tayside Division and Organised Crime Unit investigation into the supply of Class A controlled drugs by organised criminals in the city following a high level of suspected drug-related deaths.

Between July and October 2018, the initiative resulted in officers seizing approximately 6kgs of heroin and a kilogram of cocaine, with a combined street value of more than £380,000, as well as £12,000 in cash.

In September last year, while on bail, Yorston failed to appear at the High Court in Glasgow to be sentenced.

Inquiries established that she had fled with her husband, who is a Bulgarian national, and a European arrest warrant was granted.

The warrant was executed on March 4 this year and she was arrested by the Bulgarian authorities and extradited back to Scotland on July 2.

Police Scotland welcomed the sentence imposed on Yorston.

Detective Chief Inspector Scott Fotheringham said: “Operation Boost was a complex and protracted investigation which identified Yorston playing a significant role in an organised crime group intent in bringing misery to our communities.

“Police Scotland works hard with local, national and international partners to make Tayside and the rest of Scotland a hostile environment for those involved in this sort of criminality.

“I welcome the sentence handed to Yorston which also underlines how seriously the courts view such activities.”

Morag Yorston