Rabbit-hole stash snags drugs gang

An organised crime gang was being monitored by an undercover surveillance unit in Perth when they hid £5,000 cash in a Tupperware box down a waterside rabbit-hole.

The Liverpool-based gang was also seen handing over a bag stuffed with more than £33,000 during their county lines drug dealing operation in Scotland. Three members of the gang have been jailed for nearly six years after they admitted their bid to flood Perthshire with more than £65,000 worth of heroin. Blayne Gray and Max Donovan from Liverpool and Perth man George Crone were watched as they carried out their illicit operation.

Fiscal depute Michael Sweeney told Perth Sheriff Court: “Police received intelligence that Max Donovan was part of a Liverpool-based organised crime group and was concerned in the supply of drugs.

“A surveillance operation was set up, and he was seen on a pathway in Perth, walking back and forth.

“He was then seen exiting some bushes.

“Police later carried out a search.

“From within a rabbithole a Tupperware box was recovered and found to contain £5,000 in cash.

“Donovan’s DNA was found on the elastic band used to bind the cash together.”

The surveillance operation continued, and around a month later Blayne Gray was observed walking into a wooded area near Inveralmond industrial estate on the outskirts of Perth.

“He opened his rucksack and got a pair of binoculars out to scan the area.

“He was then seen to exit the area. Drug detection dog Gordy attended the area and found Tupperware containers buried in the ground. Both contained controlled drugs. A tub contained cash.”

Detectives continued monitoring gang members and saw Gray making an “animated” phone call after returning to the area and discovering the drugs and £7,000 cash had gone.

Gray was apprehended and found to be carrying almost £3,000 cash.

Some time later, Donovan returned to Perth and was seen to be driven to a handover by local man George Crone.

It later emerged a bag containing £33,440 cash was switched.

Mr Sweeney said a doorstep exchange between Donovan and Crone was intercepted and they were found with almost two kilos of heroin with a street value of £65,000.

The gang’s fingerprints and DNA were found on the cash and drugs, and the total amount of money recovered from the trio was £48,483.

Gray, 23, Culme Road, Liverpool, admitted supplying heroin in a wooded area on the outskirts of Perth on March 19 and 20 2020.

Crone, 36, Newhouse Road, Perth, admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin in Perth between September 10 and 23 2020.

Donovan, 25, Cottesbrook Road, Liverpool, admitted supplying heroin at locations in Perth between February 18 and September 23 2020.

Sheriff Euan Duthie jailed Donovan for two years, Crone for 23 months, and Gray for 18 months.

BEHIND BARS: From left, George Crone, Max Donovan and Blayne Gray are members of the Liverpool to Perth county lines crime organisation who were sentenced to jail.