SCOTTISH CRIME AND DRUG
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

EDINBURGH DRUG DEALING GANG JAILED FOR 24 YEARS

Six members of a drug-dealing criminal network were today (Monday 12 April) sentenced to a combined total of almost 24 years in prison at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The six individuals, all from Edinburgh, were arrested as a result of a Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) operation, codenamed Venom.  They pleaded guilty in February this year to being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs and include:

·         Paul Ward (29) – sentenced to seven years and six months

·         Shaun McKinnon (23) – sentenced to four years and six months

·         Kevin Jones (43) – sentenced to three years

·         Duncan McDonald (29) – sentenced to three years and nine months

·         Jamie Sweeney (24) – sentenced to two years and six months

·         Nicholas Brown (37) – sentenced to two years and six months

Operation Venom was an intelligence-led investigation targeting the large scale supply of heroin and cocaine in the Edinburgh area by a number of individuals who were being coordinated by Paul Ward and Shaun McKinnon.

As a result of the five-month investigation, nine individuals have now been convicted and almost five kilograms of class A drugs with a street value of over £298,000 were recovered.

McDonald was arrested on 18 February 2009 in the Dumfries and Galloway area after officers followed him to Rochdale, where he collected a quantity of drugs.  He was arrested in possession of one kilogram of heroin with a street value of £100,000.

On 6 May 2009, SCDEA officers witnessed Sweeney and Brown meet with McKinnon in Edinburgh to exchange a package.  Officers subsequently stopped the vehicle Sweeney and Brown were travelling in and arrested the two men, who were in possession of 122 grams of heroin with a street value of £3,200.

Ward, McKinnon and Jones were arrested on 29 May 2009 after the three men were seen meeting in a vehicle on Old Dalkeith Road in Edinburgh.  Jones was seen to be concealing items within his clothing, which turned out to be 225 grams of heroin with an approximate street value of £20,000.

Another member of the crime gang, Liam Bell (28) was arrested in April 2009 and was in possession of 1 kilogram of cocaine, with a street value of £50,000.  Bell was found guilty of drugs charges and is awaiting sentencing.

Detective Chief Superintendent Allan Moffat, Head of Investigations Group, SCDEA said:

“This crime group was responsible for supplying a significant amount of class A drugs; the amount of illegal substances seized as a result of our investigation provides an indication of the scale of drug dealing these individuals were involved with.  It also provides some suggestion as to the level of profit they were generating from their illegal enterprise.

“It is appropriate that these individuals are now behind bars, being punished for the serious crimes they have committed.  The illegal drugs trade causes extensive damage within our communities through the effects of drugs misuse, as well as the fear and violence associated with drug trafficking.  By locking up those responsible we hopefully provide some respite to our communities and also send a clear message to others involved in serious organised crime.

“As an agency, we will use whatever means necessary to detect and dismantle organised crime.  We are constantly improving the intelligence picture of who is involved in serious organised crime and what they are doing.  These criminals should be in no doubt that our efforts will remain steadfast and that we are determined to bring them to justice.”

Scott Pattison, Director of Operations for Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said:

"These offenders subjected communities in Central Scotland to a determined campaign to flood the area with heroin and cocaine.

"As a result of this operation and the partnership between the SCDEA and our prosecutors, a significant amount of class A drugs has been removed from the supply chain - and the misery and devastation they would have caused has been avoided.

"Drug dealers are a scourge on society and their dealing has a corrosive effect on our young people and our communities.  Their activities will not be tolerated, and our prosecutors will continue to work with the SCDEA to ensure they are caught and brought to justice."

Shaun McKinnon has been ordered to attend a confiscation hearing in May 2010.