Trio of Dundee drug dealers jailed

Three Tayside drug dealers caught in a flat with worth more than £400,000 of cocaine have been jailed for a total of 13 and a half years.

Gilbert MacLellan was found in the living room of his home with Darren McKelvie and Kurt D’Cruz - who was caught trying to climb out of a kitchen window with cocaine staining his hands.

Police spotted a cooking pot with the class A drug on view on a worktop when they raided the flat on April 4 last year.

Cannabis was also found along with benzocaine, the most common cutting agent used to bulk out cocaine.

D’Cruz, 28, and MacLellan, 59, were under surveillance after police launched Operation Twisted to investigate the illegal drugs trade in Tayside.

Advocate depute Liam Ewing told the court: “All of the accused were assessed to be further down the chain of supply than those that were the initial targets.”

D’Cruz, of The Hazels, MacLellan, and McKelvie, 28, all of Dundee, previously admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis between January 5 and April 4 last year.

Earlier at the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lady Scott jailed D'Cruz and MacLellan for five years each and McKelvie for three and a half years.

She told them that whilst they were further down, “each of them had a significant role within the supply chain”.

Mr Ewing said that on April 4 MacLellan was seen going into the close at his home carrying bags and police later forced entry the same day and detained the three men.

A search at D’Cruz’s then home at Leyshade Court, Dundee, recovered further drugs and mobile phones.

Analysis of phones taken from McKelvie showed that he arranged for the importation of benzococaine from China and it was discovered that it was delivered to the home of a woman acquaintance whom he had assured it was illegal.

Eight kilos of the bulking agent was found and the woman revealed that he previously took another delivery away in March.

Mr Ewing said that more than a kilo of high purity cocaine was found at MacLellan’s home which had the potential to be cut into bulked out drugs worth more than £406,000 at street level. Almost two kilos of benzocaine were also recovered.

Cannabis and cannabis resin were also found with the potential to make more than £50,000 if cut up into deals.

Cannabis and cocaine which had the potential to make nearly £5,000 on the streets was found at D’Cruz’s home at Leyshade Court. Phones from D’Cruz and MacLellan were analysed and messages from others looking for drugs were discovered.

The court heard the men had drug debts at the time of the offence.

Detective Inspector Stewart Forsyth, of the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit, said:

'Police Scotland welcomes the sentencing of Gilbert MacLellan, Kurt De'Cruz and Darren McKelvie. This significant recovery of controlled drugs and sentencing today of those responsible sends a strong message to those who deal drugs in our communities. Tackling all forms of Serious and Organised Crime; including those who supply controlled drugs is a priority for Police Scotland and we will continue to target those individuals who are involved in this illicit trade.

'The recovery was the result of a series of raids and represents a considerable success for Police Scotland in its endeavours to disrupt the crime groups causing a great deal of harm and who target some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the public and remind them that all the information provided to us is taken seriously and we act upon it.

'Anyone who has information that could assist Police Scotland in taking another drug dealer off of our streets should call us on 101. Alternatively information can be passed anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111'

Nicky Patrick, Procurator Fiscal for Homicide and Major Crime, said:

“These men were preparing significant quantities of harmful drugs for onward sale. As well as having the potential to cause significant harm, sale of illegal drugs funds serious organised crime in Scotland.

"We will continue to do all in our power to bring people who traffic drugs to justice. We are also working to recover the proceeds of their crimes and return that money to Scotland’s communities."