West of Scotland gangland figure jailed after huge police raid

A West of Scotland gang member caught after police cracked encrypted phones during a huge drugs and guns probe has been jailed for six years. David Hough was held following a raid on a street valium factory in Johnstone, Renfrewshire which could churn out more than 100,000 pills an hour.

Deadly guns and hand grenades were then found during a separate raid at a "safe house" in Milton, Glasgow.

Hough - nicknamed Murfy -has been sentenced at the High Court in Paisley.

The 39 year-old had admitted last month to being involved in serious organised crime between April and June 2020.

Lady Haldane cut the jail-term from nine years due to his guilty plea.

Convicted cocaine dealer Hough - who was brought back from Spain to face justice - was further hit with a three year Serious Crime Prevention Order.

These are designed to tackle and monitor criminals when they are freed.

An earlier hearing in Glasgow heard how police swooped in June last year as part of Operation Gadget which focused on Hough and associates.

This was linked to the Europe-wide Operation Venetic - an investigation into the top secret Encrochat phone network used by criminals.

Hough was involved in the 'business and marketing side' of the drugs lab with trusted lieutenant Hugh McHugh, 43, having a "hands on role".

Prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel said: “The organised crime group’s operation in Scotland consisted of the storage and adulteration of class A drugs and the production of etizolam tablets for onward supply.

“They used commercial and industrial premises and vehicles as well as some residential home addresses to store drugs, adulterants, firearms and money.

“The lab was found on June 10 2020 where the tablets were sold in varying quantities as street valium in areas such as Milton in Glasgow.”

A total of 228,000 tablets were recovered with a potential value of £114,027.

A machine found in the lab had the potential to make a further 118,000 tablets per hour.

The padlocked premises in Rannoch Road, Johnstone was next to the home of associate Eric Morrison.

The hearing was told two hand grenades, five slam guns, a revolver and more than 50 bullets were discovered at the house in Milton.

A total of £27,650 of cocaine - some with a purity of 78% - was also found there.

Detectives went on to find encrypted phones at the homes of Hough, of East Kilbride, and McHugh, who lived in Milton.

Hough told officers: "I'm not giving any password or pin code. No comment."

But, the devices were examined revealing a series of damning messages.

One text read: "Have you anywhere to put a toolbox with a few shotguns in it?"

There also included many photos of "significant quantities" of drugs sent from McHugh.

Miss Dalziel: "There was frequent daily communication between the parties with Hough issuing many of the instructions relating to a wide variety of tasks.

"More than 50 messages a day were exchanged at times."

Cocaine was also referred to using designer names such as Gucci.

But, on April 2 2020, a message revealed baby-sitting got in the way of McHugh's criminal activities.

He stated: "Mate, lab defo not happening tonight. She's causing it and I've got weans now. Lol."

Hough also sent a photo of firearms to McHugh.

McHugh also last month admitted to the same charge as Hough.

He is due to be sentenced later this month.

Eric Morrison, 37, previously pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of etizolam. He will also learn his fate at a later hearing.

James Dalziel, 28, admitted to charges of being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine after a raid at another flat in Milton.

He has been jailed for two years and three months.

Welcoming the sentences, Detective Superintendent David Scott of Greater Glasgow CID, said:

“This investigation successfully targeted one of Scotland’s top-tier organised crime groups. Disrupting the activities of these groups and making the country an extremely hostile environment for them to operate is one of Police Scotland’s top priorities.

"This demonstrates our commitment to the country’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and our resolve to tackle the blight criminals bring to our communities.

“No criminal is untouchable, even those who flee abroad to avoid justice.

“These men were responsible for bringing fear and misery to communities across Scotland and are now facing many years in prison, demonstrating the gravity of the crimes they were involved in.

“I also want to acknowledge the excellent work by Detective Inspector Craig McPhail and the dedicated team of officers whose tireless efforts, working closely with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, saw the gang brought before the courts.”

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