Cabbie delivered drugs-mix to flat
Cops saw him with bag
A taxi driver who was caught transporting a substance used to mix cocaine was snared by cops investigating a “serious and organised crime group”, a court has heard.
Linwood man William McNeil, 54, was arrested after detectives spotted him carrying a bag containing almost two kilos of Benzocaine into a flat in Cleghorn Street, Dundee.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard yesterday how police raided the property shortly afterwards and found the white powder alongside a quantity of cocaine.
McNeil pleaded guilty to being involved in the supply of drugs in the Dundee area on April 29, 2016.
His guilty plea came moments before he was scheduled to go to trial.
Yesterday, prosecution lawyer Euan Cameron told judge Lord Armstrong that McNeil was picked up during a probe of Scottish gangsters.
Mr Cameron said: “Operation Paragon is a police investigation into the supply and distribution of controlled drugs by a serious and organised crime group operating in the central belt of Scotland.
“At approximately 00.24 hours on April 29, 2016, William McNeil was observed entering the common close at 43 Cleghorn Street, Dundee, in possession of a black rolled up bag.
“William McNeil spent approximately 13 minutes within the flat at top right before exiting and driving off.
“He was no longer in possession of the bag.”
The court heard that officers raided the property and found the Benzocaine, which is a local anaesthetic commonly used for pain relief.
McNeil’s DNA was found on one of the bags containing the substance.
Mr Cameron added: “Benzocaine is known to be one of the most commonly-used cutting agents for cocaine.”
The court heard that McNeil and another man – Mark McLaren – were arrested shortly afterwards.
McLaren received a 45month sentence earlier this year for being involved in the supply of cocaine.
On that occasion, the court heard how the class A powder found in the flat belonged to him.
Defence advocate Thomas Ross told the court that his client was a taxi driver.
Judge Lord Armstrong told McNeil that he’d defer sentence for the court to obtain reports.
But he warned the accused that he was considering sending him to prison. Lord Armstrong added: “I’m keeping all sentencing options open.”
McNe i l w i l l be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on August 15.