Highland court hears of massive drugs haul
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A gambling addict was “in a dark place” when he was caught acting as a drugs courier in Inverness he told police.
Police acting on intelligence received pulled Alexander Currie over in Longman Road, Inverness, on January 24, 2017 and discovered cannabis resin worth between £4800 and £13,440 in his vehicle.
Currie (54) of Ormiston, East Lothian, told them he was living in a flat in Edinburgh at the time and a further search of those premises also uncovered a quantity of amphetamine in a freezer there.
Due to the purity level of that drug, it was estimated to be worth up to £151,110.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Currie told police: "I’m in a dark place and I had no choice.”
He admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis and amphetamine and also pleaded guilty to failing to appear at court for an earlier hearing in February last year.
Solicitor Graham Bryson told Sheriff Chris Dickson: “There is a background to this particular offence.
“He was not the prime mover and in due course that will be expanded upon.”
He asked the sheriff to defer sentencing on his client in order to obtain background reports.
He also asked that Currie be granted bail, adding he had not been in custody since 2012 and he had racked up only one other conviction since then.
“He has a number of issues, is a problem gambler and pressure was being put on him,” he said.
Sheriff Dickson said he would adjourn the case for the purpose of obtaining background reports.
However, he said that given the value of the drugs involved and the fact that Currie had also admitted failing to appear at a previous court hearing, he would be remanded ahead of his next appearance.
The case was continued for sentencing until February 13.
Read more from the Ross-shire Journal.
