Two men jailed for decade over major Broxburn drug operation
The pair, 64 and 36, were sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh after an eight-day trial
Two men have been jailed for a total of 10 years for running a large-scale drug operation in Broxburn.
Kevin Ramage, 64, and Derek Wilson, 36, produced millions of Etizolam tablets - known as street Valium - at an industrial unit in the town between July 2020 and December 2021.
Their operation was uncovered when police raided the Albyn Industrial Estate in December 2021, seizing 60,000 tablets, 20,000 counterfeit pills, and enough powder to make 20,000 more.
Both men were sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh after an eight-day trial, where a jury found them guilty of manufacturing and supplying controlled drugs.
Kevin Ramage, from Tranent, was jailed for four years and six months, while Derek Wilson, from Broxburn, received a five-year and six-month sentence.
Wilson will also face confiscation proceedings under Proceeds of Crime laws to recover illegally obtained money.
Moira Orr, who leads on Major Crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “This was a coordinated effort to distribute significant quantities of illegal and harmful drugs.
“These men are now serving prison sentences thanks to an extensive police operation, working with COPFS, to investigate a network of drug supply.
“We are targeting all people who threaten communities across Scotland, not only drug couriers but also those who direct their movements. With each case of this type, we can help reduce the harm these drugs inflict on those communities.”
The court heard that during the raid on the industrial units, police uncovered pill presses typically used in pharmaceutical production, along with drugs valued at an estimated £100,000.
One large press was capable of producing 120,000 tablets per hour, while a smaller machine could manufacture 40,000 an hour.
That same day, officers searched the homes of both accused, seizing multiple phones. A forensic examination later revealed evidence of extensive drug dealing over an 18-month period.