Coatbridge man caught with £650,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis

A drugs courier was caught with £625,000 of cocaine and cannabis after an anonymous tip-off, a court has heard.

At the High Court in Glasgow, 44 year-old Gerrard Molloy from Coatbridge, admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis at the A74 (M) at Abington on December 29, last year, and to being concerned in the supply of cocaine at his home on the same date.

Both offences were aggravated by a connection to serious organised crime.

Prosecutor Alan Nicol said: “Mr Molloy was operating as a drugs courier for organised crime.”

The court was told that police received information that Molloy, who has six non-analagous convictions, was driving along the M74 in a van with a consignment of drugs.

He was stopped at Abingdon and two large cardboard boxes containing cannabis were found.

Mr Nicolsaid that the street value of the cannabis was £325,000.

A search of Molloy's home in Albion Street, Coatbridge, uncovered two sets of scales, a hydraulic press and six packets of cocaine with a maximum street value of £300,000.

Judge Lady Scott deferred sentence on Molloy until next month at the High Court in Edinburgh and continued his bail.

Defense counsel George Gebbie will give his plea in mitigation then.