‘Top of the chain’ gang had largest firepower

An organised crime gang has been judged the most sophisticated ever encountered in Scotland by the police force, given its “unprecedented” level of firepower,

Nine men will be sentenced next month over their involvement in a gang that trafficked firearms and was responsible for the abduction of a drug dealer and a shooting in Edinburgh’s Ratho area.

Prosecutors told the High Court of Glasgow yesterday how the gang was “top of the chain” for major drug deals across Scotland.

A serious organised crime gang facing jail after being snared by police is the “most sophisticated” group of its kind encountered by the Scottish force, a court has heard.

The High Court in Glasgow was told yesterday how the group’s operation centred around the importation of huge quantities of class A drugs, acting as wholesalers to other dealers.

Prosecutors told how the group was at the “top of the chain” for drugs transactions in Scotland and the United Kingdom and had access to an “unprecedented” level of firepower.

Nine men had previously pleaded guilty to charges involving serious criminal activity, including firearms, drug dealing and violence.

Amid high security, the gang members returned to court yesterday to hear the Crown reveal extensive details of their criminal activities, which span a four-year period from 2013.

The men, who are all remanded in custody, will be sentenced next month.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice, QC, told the court that the case marked the end of four separate major police investigations into serious and organised crime. He said: “The organised crime group is the most sophisticated group encountered by Police Scotland.

“Their operation centres on the importation of vast quantities of cocaine. Their role is as wholesalers to other organised crime groups.

“They are at the top of the chain in terms of drugs transactions in Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole.”

Mr Prentice told how the gang would package and hide substantial amounts of cash to take to senior group members and were involved in the trafficking of firearms to enforce their operations.

“The firepower at the disposal of this crime group is unprecedented in terms of the history of organised crime in Scotland,” Mr Prentice said.

The nine men in the dock included David Sell, 50, Barry O’neil, 37, Anthony Woods, 44, Francis Mulligan, 41, Michael Bowman, 30 and 30-year-old Mark Richardson.

Gerard Docherty, 42, Steven Mcardle, 33, and former soldier Martyn Fitzsimmons, 37, were also on trial.

The court heard how Richardson had two previous High Court convictions for drugs offences. Fitzsimmons had been previously jailed for 12 years in England for procuring explosives, weapons and ammunition. The court heard how the gang would use vehicles and a network of industrial premises let under false names and addresses.

Police searches of those locations led to the seizure of more than 1,000 items.

These included encrypted mobile phones, counter-surveillance equipment, firearms, including automatic pistols, machine guns and a grenade, and about £1.6 million in cash.

Mr Prentice told how “violent means” were deployed by the gang and it became clear that they were connected to the abduction and assault of drug dealer, as well as a shooting in Edinburgh’s Ratho area.

Judge Lord Beckett deferred sentencing to 22 January. Pleas in mitigation for the nine accused are expected.