Gang member jailed for multi-million pound drugs operation

A crime gang member who operated a multi-million pound drug smuggling operation was jailed today for three years and nine months.

Tony Bennett, 33, was snared after police cracked an encrypted messaging service used by underworld figures.

Bennett spoke about importing ingredients from China to make £5 million of drugs if he was able to find a chemist.

He hatched a plan to ship Class A drugs to Scotland from Ecuador to be adulterated for onward supply.

Bennett - a tiler - also claimed to have access vehicles with "hydraulic slots" that would hide drugs.

He was later seen discussing the purchase of a £6-12,000 Skorpion machine gun.

Bennett pled guilty to being involved in serious organised crime.

The charge spans between March and June 2020 at locations in Glasgow, Cumbernauld and Uddingston, Lanarkshire.

Bennett was given a confiscation order at the High Court in Aberdeen today as well as the prison sentence.

Bennett was snared after police Operation Venetic gained access to encrypted EncroChat messages.

Relevant data was shared with national law enforcement and warrants were executed for an address associated with Bennett.

Police found that Bennett used the names "Mr Nice" and "Kind Killer" on EncroChat.

Prosecutor David Dickson said: "He made extensive use of EncroChat to further his criminal conduct.

"There were criminal conversations in the region of 60 contacts, most of whom are hierarchy members of organised crime groups, some of whom were overseas.

"His messages were concerned with securing the controlled drugs on behalf of the organised crime group and their adulteration for onward supply in Scotland."

The hearing was told that Bennett was in contact with an individual about forming a "joint enterprise" in April 2020.

Mr Dickson said: "This was in relation to the purchase of class A drugs in Ecuador which would be adulterated in Scotland for onward supply."

The pair later discussed adapting a vehicle to create a hidden cavity to transport 250 kilos of drugs.

There was an exchange the next day about the acquisition of six or seven kilos of cocaine.

The pair believed the purchase of cocaine could make them a profit of £2.5 million.

Bennett stated that he could also source a press capable of producing 500,000 etizolam tablets a day.

He claimed that he would start a tyre business which would provide cover for the transportation of drugs in concealed spaces within vehicles.

Bennett said: "Can get a van with a hydraulic slot in the floor. Holds two million at a time."

The hearing was told that Bennett spoke with another individual on June 10 2020.

Mr Dickson said: "He asked the other person whether he knew any chemists who could make him M-Kat saying 'I can get all the ingredients from China. Serious paper'.

"This is assessed as them discussing the production of mephedrone (mkat) and the ability to make a significant profit."

He claimed he was capable of producing 100 kilos of the drug.

Mr Dickson said: "They discussed profit from the first batch which could be used for subsequent purchases with a view of producing a ton of mephedrone to make a profit of £5 million."

Bennett and the individual also spoke about purchasing a Skorpion machine gun.

The individual offered Bennett the firearm to which he replied: "Let me find somewhere for it."

Bennett discussed the gun with another individual stating: "Boys wanting 12k off his bill."

Mr Dickson said: "This suggests a trade of a reduction in sums due to exchange for the gun."

The individual selling the gun - valued between £6,000 and £12,500 - was later prepared to swap it for 300 grams of cocaine.

Judge Olga Pasportnikov asked Mr Dickson if the transaction took place which he replied: "It didn't, it was just a discussion."

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