Drug trafficker ordered to hand over £15K found in golf bag
Peter McLaren from Glasgow was jailed for six years after being linked to £250K worth of cocaine and cannabis
A drug trafficker from Glasgow is to hand over pounds £15,000 of cash under a confiscation order after it was found in a golf bag when he was stopped by police.
Peter McLaren was jailed for six years in November after he was linked to consignments of cocaine in Glasgow and cannabis in the Highlands worth about pounds 250,000 on the streets.
The judge who sentenced the 48-year-old to imprisonment, Lord Woolman, told him he had played "an important role in the drugs distribution chain" and had directed couriers.
Police seized a half kilo of high purity cocaine in Glasgow that had the potential to be cut with adulterants to produce seven times that amount on the streets.
They also intercepted a courier in Ullapool and recovered 19 kilos of cannabis which was due to be transported to the Isle of Lewis.
Dozens of replica football tops were also found during a raid on McLaren's home in Foresthall Drive, in Glasgow.
McLaren became the target for extensive surveillance by detectives during an operation dubbed Operation Numerical.
He frequented various golf clubs and was regularly seen driving a blue Mercedes and during a stop of the car the money was found.
McLaren admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine in March 2014 at locations in Glasgow, including his home address, and admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis resin bewteeen July 21 and August 21 in the same year.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that McLaren claimed he had become involved in the drugs trade in a bid to keep his kitchen firm business going.
Following his conviction the Crown raised proceedings to seize crime profits from him. His counsel, Tony Lenehan told Lord Pentland that a settlement had been reached in the action.
Mr Lenehan said it was agreed that his benefit figure from criminal conduct was £175,000 and the available amount for confiscation was £15,000.