Really close call for customs duo on surveillance

By 1989, Julian Chisholm’s gang were making waves across Scotland – and his notoriety reached the desks of police chiefs.

They knew the mid-20s drugs importer was bringing in so much cannabis to the UK they had to stop him.

The Stonehaven-based Scottish Crime Squad (SCS) met their Customs and Excise colleagues in September 1989 – and vowed to devote significant resources to the task.

Commander Willie Anderson put a dozen case officers from the SCS Glasgow office on to the case, while customs boss Graham Dick set aside a team to tail the gang.

But it was far from easy keeping tabs on them.

Firstly, they had to rely on Spanish police to keep tabs on Chisholm’s gang on the Costa del Sol.

Secondly, they had to tail Chisholm for long distances in the UK as he insisted on driving from London or Edinburgh to meet underlings in Ullapool.

Thirdly, Chisholm used evasive techniques – but they were too smart for him.

Eugene Costello, author of White Gold – about Chisholm’s gang – said: “Chisholm would fly in from Spain to the UK.

“Customs had informers at the car-hire firms so would know his registration plate every time.

“He would go round a roundabout four times and check if anyone followed, to spring them.

“But customs would have a second surveillance car, ready to take over if the first car was flushed out.

“Customs would relay the job, one car would follow Chisholm for 50 miles and hand over to a colleague parked on the roadside. They invested a lot of resources.”

Though Chisholm was paranoid, he never caught customs out – but there was one situation where things got very close for comfort.

In February 1990, customs officers Graham Dick and Joe Mcguigan trailed Chisholm to the Glenisla Hotel.

They decided to enter the bar – risking a sensational confrontation with Chisholm.

Graham Dick told us: “There was the possibility he was meeting (his righthand man) Ian Rae inside the hotel and that would have been great evidence.

“We went in there and had a pint and a meal.

“Julian was at the bar. Behind the barman was pane of glass and we could see he was looking at our reflection, as we sat at the table.

“The barman followed me into the toilets and started asking me questions about why we were in the area.

“Joe and I had a good cover story – we were going hillwalking up Glenshee. We had come from Glasgow. The barman accepted that story.

“Then we left. Julian Chisholm followed us to the car park to see which way we went. He was paranoid. We maybe didn’t fit the profile at the bar.”

Mr Costello said: “With hindsight it probably wasn’t a great idea because there was hardly anyone in there.”

It was a close call but did not scare Chisholm off.

He continued to prepare his next big score, with dramatic consequences.

Glenisla Hotel at Kirkton of Glenisla, near Blairgowrie.