‘Apprentice’ drug dealer was in training with gang

A “sorcerer’s apprentice” who was learning the cocaine trade from a million-pound drugs gang yesterday admitted his role in the operation.

Ryan Bonella was being taught by others higher up the chain in a drugs gang that spanned Scotland and who were caught with almost £1 million pounds worth of class A drugs in raids.

Bonella and other criminals were placed under surveillance in late 2016 on suspicion of being part of a drugs ring.

When Bonella’s house in Dundee was raided police found evidence that he was involved in cutting high quality cocaine in to street deals and enforcing drug debts accrued by users.

Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson told Dundee Sheriff Court that a higher level dealer, William Malkin – who was last year jailed for five years for his drug activities – was “teaching” Bonella how to use encrypted phones to hide his role and how to cut drugs for onward sale.

Bonella’s lawyer, George Donnelly, said: “He was somewhat of a sorcerer’s apprentice being directed by those higher up the chain.”

Miss Robertson told the court that drug distribution paraphernalia was found in Bonella’s home, and that searches of criminal Christopher Haddow’s home and car found references to his address.

She said: “At Haddow’s home 683 grams of cocaine and 4.2 kilos of bulking agents were found.

“Extensive analysis of phones showed Bonella was working as part of the operation.

“William Malkin and the accused were discussing how to adulterate, package and distribute cocaine.

“Messages show him texting people to recover money and to buyers.”

Bonella, 25, of Whitfield Rise, pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine between October 31 and December 9 2016.

Sheriff Alastair Brown deferred sentence until February and remanded Bonella in custody.

Ryan Bonella of Dundee will be sentenced next month.