The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Drug dealers jailed following near £500,000 cocaine haul
Dundee trio trapped in extensive police sting, codenamed Operation Twisted
Three drug dealers who imported substances from China have been jailed for almost 15 years after being caught with more than £470,000 of cocaine and cannabis.
Gilbert MacLellan, 60, Kurt D’Cruz, 28, and Darren McKelvie, 26, were sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.
The Dundee trio were caught following an extensive police surveillance mission – codenamed Operation Twisted – aimed at disrupting the Tayside drug supply network in April 2017.
MacLellan was spotted sauntering into his house with heavy bags, prompting officers to storm the property.
Police found him and McKelvie in their living room, with D’Cruz attempting to clamber out of a window, his hands smeared with cocaine.
Cocaine with a street value of more than £400,000, in the process of being combined with mixing agents, was seized. Officers also recovered cannabis and cannabis resin worth nearly £60,000.
Police then conducted a second search at D’Cruz’s home at Leyshade Court, where they recovered further drugs and mobile phones.
The phones revealed D’Cruz had arranged for mixing agents imported illegally from China to be delivered to a woman’s address in the city.
Further investigation uncovered a previous shipment had been taken from her house earlier in 2017 by McKelvie.
Nicky Patrick, procurator fiscal for homicide and major crime, said: “These men were preparing significant quantities of harmful drugs for onward sale.
“As well as having the potential to cause significant harm, sale of illegal drugs funds serious organised crime in Scotland.
“We will continue to do all in our power to bring people who traffic drugs to justice. We are also working to recover the proceeds of their crimes and return that money to Scotland’s communities”
D’Cruz, of The Hazels, MacLellan, of Murrayfield Terrace, and McKelvie, of Gleneagles Avenue, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis between January 5 and April 4 last year.
Detective Inspector Stewart Forsyth, of the organised crime and counter terrorism unit, said: “This significant recovery of controlled drugs and sentencing today of those responsible sends a strong message to those who deal drugs in our communities.
“Tackling all forms of serious and organised crime – including those who supply controlled drugs – is a priority for us and we will continue to target those individuals who are involved in this illicit trade.
“The recovery was the result of a series of raids and represents a considerable success for Police Scotland in its endeavours to disrupt the crime groups causing a great deal of harm and who target some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank the public and remind them that all the information provided to us is taken seriously and we act upon it.
“Anyone who has information that could assist Police Scotland in taking another drug dealer off of our streets should call us on 101. Alternatively information can be passed anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”