Vigilant post office staff help police bust factory producing new drug‘shatter’

Post Office staff and police helped bust the first-ever commercial operation in Scotland to produce a powerful and dangerous new drug colloquially called“shatter”.

Twenty-six-year-old Joshua Palmer, who described himself as a selfemployed online shop owner, lived alone at Roadside Cottage, Alyth.

But he had turned it into a money-making factory to produce the Class B drug, developed by passing butane gas through cannabis.

He was a regular visitor to the Post Office at the Scotmid store in the town’s Airlie Street where he would despatch special delivery packages to addresses both north and south of the border.

But staff became suspicious after detecting a“strong odour”from him and the parcels, believed to be cannabis.

The Royal Mail’s security department was alerted and they subsequently called in the police.

A search warrant was obtained for Palmer’s home - and officers seized thousands of pounds worth of “shatter,”as well as cannabis, along with drugs paraphernalia used to produce the illicit substance.

Depute fiscal John Malpass said the case related to the accused producing - and being concerned in the supply - of butane hash oil (BHO).

“It’s a processed form of a substance identified on forensic examination as tetrahydrocannabinal (THC), a Class B drug.

“According to police, it’s a relatively new product on the illicit market and the recovery of BHO is very rare in Scotland.

“It’s believed this case is the first find of a commercial-style set-up in Scotland.”

Palmer, a first offender, will be sentenced on June 7 after a Community Justice Social Work report, along with a Restriction of Liberty Order assessment, are prepared.

Sheriff William Wood warned the accused, however, that he didn’t rule out the imposition of a jail term.

“The court will have to consider a custodial sentence is the only way this matter can be dealt with.”

Now living in Morn Street, Alyth, he admitted that between August 10, 2015, and February 15, 2016, at Scotmid Stores and Roadside Cottage, he was concerned in the supply of THC.

He also pled guilty to a second charge of producing the drug at his home between the same dates.

Mr Malpass said the texture of the BHO, once extracted from the cannabis, resembled hardened treacle toffee.

During the production process, liquid butane gas is allowed to evaporate into a gaseous state which creates an“explosive atmosphere” within an enclosed state.

He added:“The production process is highly dangerous in an uncontrolled environment as highly volatile substances are being used.”

In the week before Christmas, 2015, Palmer visited the post office on a daily basis and would hand over two or three packages for posting through Royal Mail.

The post office employee“detected a strong smell of cannabis”coming from the packages and suspected they contained controlled substances.

On January 15, 2016, packages bound for addresses in Irvine, Ayrshire, and Epsom, Surrey, were taken out of the delivery chain, unknown to the accused, and were opened and examined.

They contained 6.77 grammes and 0.97 grammes respectively of “gelatinous substance, later identified as“shatter.”

They were worth between £300 and £600 and £50-£100.

A further 41.58 grammes of‘shatter,’ with a potential illicit value of between £2070 and £4140, were also seized.

In addition, more than 700 grammes of cannabis, with a total maximum potential illicit value of between £5370 and £15,940, were confiscated.

A total of £560 in cash was also found in the cottage.

The prosecution have asked that the drugs and associated equipment be destroyed.

Palmer’s lawyer will give his plea in mitigation after the reports have been prepared next month.

A Perth woman who spat at a police officer was told this week that it hadn’t been her“finest hour.”

Perth Sheriff Court heard that officers had gone to Edith Reid’s home in the Muirton area of the city in relation to an ongoing family dispute.

“The officers were trying to calm the situation down,”according to depute fiscal Carol Whyte.

As PC Neil Aitkenhead raised his arm, however, she lunged at him.

She was asked to step back but as he and a colleague left the house, she spat on his right forearm.

Twenty-year-old Reid, of Kestrel Way, was put on the Right Track scheme, designed to curb offending behaviour, after admitting the assault which took place on April 10 this year.

Solicitor Erika Watson said her client had given a candid account of what had taken place to the social worker who had prepared the background report.

“Clearly family circumstances are somewhat difficult,”she added.

Imposing the order, Sheriff William Wood told her:“Clearly this wasn’t your finest hour, spitting at a police officer who was there to help.”

Reid’s progress will be reviewed on August 16.

A Perth man has denied driving a car near his home with almost double the legal alcohol limit.

Thirty-five-year-old Lindsay Rodger, of Glentilt Terrace, will face trial at Perth Sheriff Court on August 11.

A preliminary hearing was fixed for July 27 and he was freed on bail meantime.

It is alleged that on May 7, in Glenearn Road, Perth, he drove a car with 39 microgrammes of alcohol on his breath - the legal limit is 22.

Further charges allege he drove while disqualified and without insurance cover.