Man who used taxi to transport £100k of drugs in Glasgow avoids jail
Isa Ali was caught with cannabis and cocaine in the city's Pollock in April 2021
A dealer who used a taxi to collect £105,000 of drugs has avoided jail.
Isa Ali, 23, was snared by police in the vehicle in Glasgow's Pollok on April 20, 2021.
Officers were alerted to the cannabis as well as cocaine due to the "strong smell "coming from the taxi's boot.
A number of bags were found which led to the arrest of Ali, of Pollok.
READ MORE: Man charged over North Lanarkshire drugs bust.
Ali pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis.
He also admitted a charge of dangerous driving from a later date.
The court heard that police officers were working in a Glasgow City Council CCTV van around 6pm.
Prosecutor Danielle McGuinness said: "Officers could smell a strong smell of cannabis from the vehicle in front of them.
"Other officers were alerted and stopped the taxi driver - Ali was the passenger in the vehicle.
"The driver had collected Ali from his home and took him to various locations then he placed items in the boot of his car."
A search of the vehicle recovered 177 grams of cocaine valued at £5,000 as well as 14 kilos of cocaine valued at £100,000 from bags in the boot of the taxi.
The hearing was told that Ali was spotted driving a BMW in an erratic manner on January 5 2022 in the city's Nitshill.
Ali was seen to repeatedly accelerate and decelerate as well as changing lanes.
He performed a U-turn when he noticed police but stopped his vehicle when an officer put his arm out while he stood on the road.
Sheriff Andrew McIntyre ordered Ali to do 150 hours of unpaid work and put him under supervision for two years.
Ali was tagged for one year keeping him indoors between 8pm and 7am.
Ali was also disqualified from driving for one year and nine months.
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