Scottish crime gang jailed for 'shop' drugs bust

Five members of a crime gang involved in a major drugs bust at a heavily-barricaded block of flats known as "the shop" were jailed today/yesterday for a total of 31 years and eight months.

The crew were snared in 2020 following the raid in Greenock, Inverclyde.

This was after the French and Dutch law authorities smashed the EncroChat phone network favoured by criminals, which the gang had been using to organise the trafficking.

Lee Docherty, 37, Ian Millar, 39, Brendan Gillan, 32, his father Daniel Gillan, 60, and Christopher McKellar, 44, had been due to stand trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

But, they instead each pleaded guilty to charge of being involved in serious organised crime between March and December 2020.

Judge Lord Mulholland said: "You were involved in the running of a sophisticated crime group.

"You ran it as a drugs supermarket and kept a warehouse to house the drugs.

"One involved said it was a drugs empire and another said it was a business.

"You used Encrochat phones to communicate with each other and had CCTV to see who was coming to the premises and metal doors to stop people entering the property.

"Recovery of the drugs and money shows the extent of the drugs trafficking operation ran by you all."

Docherty was jailed for eight years and was slapped with a five-year serious crime prevention order (SCPO).

Miller was caged for six years with a five-year SCPO while Brendan Gillan received six years with a three-year SCPO.

Daniel Gillan was jailed for six years and four months while McKeller was sentenced to five years and four months. Both men did not receive an SCPO.

Prosecutor Alexander Sutherland told how each member had a "handle" they were known as on the EncroChat network.

Clan leader Docherty used "renegadeball" or "goldenshark".

His brother in law Millar was known as "sarcasticflamingo".

The Gillans meantime had the names "unrealegg" and "warmhail".

McKellar had the handle "mrrr-celtic".

The name "mrr-goldentrapper" was used by different individuals linked to the gang.

Mr Sutherland explained: "They were members of an organised crime group (OCG) concerned in the sale and supply of cocaine, heroin, cannabis and etizolam.

"This was in the Inverclyde area in particular the Larkfield estate in Greenock."

The advocate depute said a property in the town's Oxford Road was called "the shop" or "the trap" by the crime crew.

Mr Sutherland: "It was the OCGs centre of operations. It was where customers attended to purchase controlled drugs.

"The property is heavily protected with heavy metal doors.

"The OCG had access to flats on the first and second floors of Oxford Road affording it a surrounding view.

"CCTV monitors were installed at 'the shop' allowing the OCG to monitor arrivals and police presence."

The court heard Docherty was the "principal member" with a "large network of associates".

Mr Sutherland: "He provided leadership and advice to members of the OCG. The others answered to him."

Millar was one of the "most trusted" recruits, Brendan Gillan was involved in the "day to day" running of the crime with his dad giving "advice" on how to run the OCG.

McKellar did not live in Greenock, but still played an important role in the drug trafficking.

Mr Sutherland described the gang's EncroChat communications.

This included discussions on the purchase of £700,000 of street Valium pills. Photos of drugs were also sent.

The gang was also concerned at times at increased police presence during the covid lockdown.

The court heard Docherty sent McKellar a photo of a TV screen at "the shop".

Mr Sutherland: "It showed marked police cars outside. Docherty stated: 'Them rats just sitting through nite'."

Various locations linked to the crew were raided on December 15 2020.

A total of around £150,000 of drugs were seized along with £12,775 in dirty money.

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