SCOTTISH CRIME AND DRUG
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

A major drug dealer who went on the run to Spain for over two years has today (June 18) been sentenced to a 14 year prison term for serious drugs offences at the High Court in Glasgow.

Jason Cleary (33), who is originally from Greenock, was the subject of an intelligence-led investigation by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA), codenamed RIVET, which was instigated in September 2004 to disrupt the activities of a serious organised crime group involved in the supply of drugs in various parts of Scotland.

Cleary was arrested in Greenock in February 2006, along with an accomplice Mark Power, for being concerned in the supply of drugs.  At the time of their arrest, the men were found in possession of £5,000 cash.

Power was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment in 2007 for his part in the crime network, but Cleary, having been granted bail, failed to appear for his trial in May 2007 and fled the country to Spain.  However, the SCDEA approached the Spanish police for assistance and he was arrested in December 2009 on an international arrest warrant and returned to Scotland to face charges.

Over the course of 13 months, between January 2005 and February 2006, SCDEA officers witnessed Cleary taking part in a number of drug transactions with other individuals at various locations across Scotland, including Greenock, Perth, Glenrothes, Fife and Glasgow.

Welcoming today’s conviction, Detective Chief Superintendent Allan Moffat, Head of Investigations at the SCDEA said:

“Despite his attempts to evade the law, this individual has now been brought to justice and is being punished for his crimes.

“Today’s conviction demonstrates that criminals are not beyond our reach, regardless of where they operate, or where they hide.  This is an excellent example of how partnership working can maximise the effectiveness of law enforcement activity, and we are grateful to the Spanish authorities for their assistance in this investigation.

“It takes a network to defeat a network and as an Agency, we are working with a wider range of partners than ever before, including law enforcement agencies around the world.  Those involved in serious organised crime should be worried as it’s only a matter of time until law enforcement is knocking on their door.”

Cleary’s conviction marks the successful conclusion of Operation Rivet.  As a result of the investigation, a combined total of cash and drugs worth over £1.25 million have been recovered.  To date, 12 individuals have been sentenced to a total of 73 years in prison, and over £161,000 worth of criminal assets have been identified for restraint.