Lanarkshire man jailed following £2.3m drug seizure

A dad-of-one caught with cocaine with a street value of £2.3m has been jailed for nine years.

James Duffy, who owed between £24,000 to £26,000 to drug dealers, was snared in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire in July last year.

A van along with two properties in the town were then searched.

The High Court in Glasgow heard a total of more than six kilos of the drug were seized.

The cocaine had a purity as high as 77 per cent.

Duffy had agreed to become involved in the drugs trade to help out his substantial debts.

Prosecutor Shirley McKenna said DNA also helped link 32-year-old Duffy to the haul which drug experts estimated at £2.3m.

Duffy, also of East Kilbride, pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Defence counsel Louise Arrol told the court the construction worker and dad-of-one had a cocaine addiction.

She said: “This was a significant addiction that amounted to debts of £24,000 to £26,000.

“This identifies the level of addiction and that debt is what led to the offending before you.”

Lord Armstrong told Duffy, who appeared in court via a video link: “The quantity and value of the drugs recovered was significant.

“The money involved indicates you were concerned in operations.

“The court has repeatedly made clear anyone who chooses to become involved in high value-controlled drugs in any capacity must expect a substantial custodial sentence.”

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