The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Drug man took £100k in a week
A drug trafficker who was collecting up to £100,000 a week from the illegal trade was caught with a large haul of cocaine at his home in Kirkcaldy.
Police seized cash, cannabis and cocaine during a search of Mathew Guthrie’s address.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that during a police interview, Guthrie “took ownership” of the drugs and money recovered at the property.
He said he was paid £500 a week to store and deliver drugs and also collected £15,000 to £100,000 a week after running into debt.
Guthrie, 33, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis between November 1 2022 and March 28 last year at his house in Oaktree Square, Kirkcaldy, and elsewhere.
Judge Lord Tyre told him: “You have pled guilty to two charges of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs, one of which concerns a large quantity of cocaine which seems to be indicative of an ongoing operation.”
The judge said because Guthrie has no previous convictions he was required to obtain a background report on him before passing a sentence of imprisonment.
The court heard that during searches officers recovered almost £33,000 in cash along with cocaine with a potential street value of more than £220,000 and more than £23,000 worth of cannabis.
Advocate depute Stewart Ronnie said police received intelligence Guthrie was concerned in the supply of illicit drugs and were granted a search warrant for his home address.
Some of the cocaine recovered during the search of the house, a shed and a summer house was of a high purity and had not been adulterated.
Officers also found a cashcounting machine and a hydraulic press.
Defence solicitor advocate Gordon Martin told the court he would reserve his mitigation for an adjourned sentencing hearing next month.
Guthrie was served with papers for a proceeds of crime action as the Crown seeks to seize profits from the drug trade.
“You have pled guilty to two charges of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs