The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Scotland’s first ‘shatter’ factory in Perthshire
Man made drug in Alyth cottage and posted it from Scotmid
A massive drugs haul in Perthshire has been revealed as Scotland’s first commercialscale “shatter” factory.
Police found the production base for the product 10 times the strength of traditional cannabis weed in a cottage in Alyth.
The production of “shatter” has been linked to several explosions and deaths due to the volatile nature of its creation.
A 26-year-old criminal chemist, Joshua Palmer, was producing thousands of pounds of the drug and posting it to buyers across the UK from his local Scotmid store.
Postal staff repeatedly smelled cannabis from Palmer and called police. A raid on his home uncovered drugs and production equipment. He pleaded guilty to producing and supplying the drug when he appeared yesterday at Perth Sheriff Court and was warned he could be jailed when he returns to be sentenced.
Creeping into the market
An ultra-strong drug sweeping the US has been discovered in Scotland on a commercial scale for the first time.
The new illicit substance remains rare but large quantities were being created in a cottage in Alyth.
Joshua Palmer had given over his entire home to the production of the drug, which is also known as BHO, and is created by distilling cannabis.
It is hugely volatile and his production line was a big danger to neighbours as one tiny mistake can be enough to cause an explosion.
The 26-year-old was sending thousands of pounds worth of the drug to buyers and addicts across the UK.
The cultivation required superior science skills and precision to ensure it could be created safely.
Palmer’s means of distribution was less sophisticated and at the height of his operation he was sending two to three packages a day via post from his local Scotmid store.
Police officers eventually found thousands of pounds of BHO and the cannabis needed to create it during a raid on March 17 last year.
They had been tipped-off by Post Office staff who had become concerned about Palmer’s activities.
In addition to the regularity of visits they could detect a strong odour emanating from both the accused and his packages, which they associated with cannabis.
Post Office security gave permission for the opening of one of the packages, destined for a buyer in Irvine.
A brown substance wrapped in layers of greaseproof paper, tinfoil and a padded envelope was found within and the police were contacted.
After viewing CCTV and obtaining Palmer’s address, the officers made Scottish history as they executed a search warrant the following day.
Drug paraphernalia, test tubes, heaters, specialised ovens, illicit substances and records of illegal activity were recovered from every room of his cottage.
Buckets, test tubes, trays, bottles and containers were all found filled with gelatinous substances and cannabis. Though still classed as a class B drug, shatter is said to be up to 10 times as strong as traditional cannabis weed.
It is made by treating cannabis with large amounts of flammable butane gas under high temperatures.
The honey-like oil that is stripped from the cannabis is then dried to create a treacle toffee-like substance.
The drug is increasingly popular because of its strength and the ways in which it can be used (and concealed), such as within an e-cigarette cartridge.
Piles of butane gas canisters – used in production of BHO – were strewn around and there were also large amounts of bank notes recovered.
An iPhone revealed everything from the moment Palmer began to sell his product, to evidence of deals, details of buyers and photographs of his operation, the BHO he was creating and cannabis.
Palmer, now of Morn Street in Alyth, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court to admit being concerned in the supply of a class B drug (tetra-hydo-cannabinol) at ScotMid Stores in Airlie Street, Alyth and at Roadside Cottage, between August 10, 2015 and February 15, 2016. He also admitted producing the drug. Sentence has been deferred until June 7, with Palmer released on bail in the meantime.
Sheriff William Wood, however, warned there was no guarantee he would keep his freedom.
He said: “This is clearly a very serious matter. Notwithstanding that you are a first offender, I cannot exclude the possibility of a custodial sentence.”