Three men convicted of running a drug trafficking operation in Ayrshire have been jailed, with one caught with close to £100k in cash in Kilmarnock Burger King.
Alan Stewart, 44, Leslie Montgomery, 64, and Matthew Cullimore, 37 were apprehended after French and Dutch authorities retrieved data from the EncroChat phone network used by criminals showing thousands of mobile messages between them discussing drug deals and payments involving hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The texts, sent between March and June 2020, revealed plans to obtain and supply large quantities of cocaine and cannabis across Ayrshire.
On Friday, 28 October, 2022 officers from Police Scotland’s Specialist Crime Division, supported by officers from the Operational Support Division, Ayrshire Division and Greater Glasgow Division, executed warrants at seven properties in Kilmarnock, Irvine and Glasgow where a variety of drugs, including cocaine and amphetamine, were recovered from the properties with an estimated value of around £208,000. Officers also seized over £211,000 cash from the addresses.
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The raids and surveillance of the men came as part of Operation Wildcard, a police operation investigating serious organised crime in Ayrshire and the surrounding areas.
The High Court in Glasgow heard how Stewart, described as the ringleader, was involved in the purchase, storage and dealing of cocaine and cannabis.
He used the handle "ExcitedEmu", Montgomery’s online name was "NeatFerret" and Cullimore used the handle "ButchPenguin" to communicate with associates through thousands of encrypted messages.
The trio were believed to be involved in the acquisition, adulteration and distribution of Class A and Class B controlled drugs throughout Kilmarnock, and the wider Ayrshire area, from March 2020 to October 2022.
Cullimore provided Stewart with details of monies collected from customers and was instructed to deliver sums of up to £100,000 in cash to drug suppliers.
On one occasion, while under police surveillance, he was spotted taking possession of a bag from a man at the Kilmarnock branch of Burger King which was later found to contain £94,980 in cash.
The men were arrested and charged and pleaded guilty to being involved in serious organised crime between March 2020 and October 2022 when they appeared at Glasgow High Court on August 7 this year.
At the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, Stewart was jailed for five years and four months.
Montgomery and Cullimore were each sentenced to four years and four months each.
Detective Superintendent Steven Elliot said: "This operation undoubtedly caused significant disruption to a large-scale, cross-border supply chain bringing drugs into Scotland.
“Police Scotland will not allow criminals and organised crime groups to profit from other people’s misery.
“This sentencing underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy.
“We know that individuals and communities are deeply affected by the drugs trade and do not tolerate the harm it brings.
“Anyone who has information or concerns about the sale and supply of drugs in their community is urged to contact Police Scotland via 101. Alternatively, if you would prefer to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Sineidin Corrins, Deputy Procurator Fiscal for Serious Casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said:
“This was a coordinated effort to distribute significant quantities of illegal and harmful drugs in Scotland.
“These men are now serving prison sentences thanks to an extensive police operation, working with COPFS, to investigate a network of drug supply.
“With each case of this kind we are reducing the harm that these drugs inflict on Scotland’s communities.
“We are targeting all people who threaten communities across Scotland, not only drug couriers but also those who are involved in the distribution of multi-kilogram quantities.
“The Crown will continue working with the police and other agencies as a member of Scotland’s Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce to ensure that these crimes are detected and those responsible prosecuted using all measures at our disposal.”
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