Chinese gangs flooding jails with 15p drugs

INTERNATIONAL crime gangs are fuelling a drug crisis in Scotland’s prisons.

Police intelligence shows groups with links to China are supplying super-strength ‘street valium’ to inmates at some of the country’s high security jails for as little as 15p a pill.

In the past year, Border officials have intercepted huge shipments of Etizolam, a tranquilliser nicknamed the ‘blue plague’, which were destined for Scots jails.

The drug has swamped Scotland in recent years and has been linked to record number of drug deaths.

Mixed with opioids such as heroin, it is incredibly powerful and can cause organ failure.

Last week, it was revealed prisoners were using mobile phones given to them in a £3million Scottish Government scheme to arrange drug deals and commit other crimes.

Now a police report shows that, in the past year, officers intercepted two kilograms of Etizolam, enough for two million 1mg doses heading from Asia to addresses in Glasgow.

The Scottish Police Authority report stated the seizures consisted of ‘blotting paper soaked in Etizolam and a printer and indentation machine used to produce individual tabs of Etizolam similar to “LSD tabs”.’ It added: ‘It is almost certain this was destined for distribution into the Scottish Prison Estates.’

Scottish Conservative community safety spokesman, Russell Findlay said: ‘The smuggling of these drugs is a lucrative and sophisticated operation controlled by organised criminals. The profits behind bars are greater than on the streets.

‘Prisons awash with drugs are not only dangerous to staff and inmates but fuel the cycle of re-offending by creating new addicts who go on to commit more crimes.’

Last week, figures showed that since August, 728 mobile devices given to inmates have been found with illegal SIM cards, which can be used for drug deals and other criminal activity.

Earlier this month, the Scottish Government’s Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce revealed there are 96 organised crime gangs operating across the country.

The pills may be cut with dangerous ingredients and are often mixed with opioids to create a lethal drug cocktail that can lead to overdose.

According to the Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce once in the system, ‘a combination of benzos and opiates can place high pressure on the body’s vital organs and their function, markedly increasing the risk of heart or breathing failure.’

A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: ‘We have seen a number of instances in the past few years where people have become very seriously ill and even died and these substances are suspected of playing a significant role in those instances.’