County Lines drugs gang jailed for up to seven years after police sting uncovered plot to flood the Highlands and Moray with heroin and cocaine

A County Lines drugs gang who planned to flood the highlands and Moray with drugs have been jailed.

The four men have been inprisoned for up to seven years following a police sting that netted £46,000 worth of heroin and cocaine.

Duncan Murdoch (29), Richard Pryce (31), Nathaniel Morgan (32) and Alexander Cobb (28) were arrested by Police Scotland officers in Nottingham in 2018.

READ MORE: Drugs gang aimed to flood Highlands with cocaine and heroin via bases in Inverness and Elgin

Their arrests followed the intelligence-led Operation Bantom, investigating them for carrying out drugs offences in the Highland and Moray areas in 2018.

They were sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow today.

The had been due to stand trial, but instead pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

Detective Constable Chris Macleod of the divisional organised crime team in Inverness said: “We welcome today’s sentencing.

"I hope this sends a strong message to those who are involved in dealing drugs that that we will target those involved in this type of illegal activity, no matter where you are based.

"Just as drug dealing is not confined by boundaries, neither are our investigations.

“This was a complex investigation and we would like to sincerely thank our partners at Nottinghamshire Police for their co-operation during this operation.

“The local communities in Inverness and Elgin have played an important part in this investigation and its success.

"We would like to reassure them that we remain committed to disrupting those involved in operating and benefiting from the supply of illegal drugs.

"We will keep targeting those intent on causing harm in our local communities”.