A cocaine addict let a “significant street operation” run from his flat to pay off his drug debt.
Cops came across the large scale production line up at Graham Reid’s flat after they turned up to check if there had been a break in.
A neighbour had reported the door to the Barrhead flat has been left insecure after being forced open, leading to the chance discovery.
And when officers turned up, they found swathes of drug paraphernalia including hydraulic presses, bags of white power and digital scales.
Reid appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court on Friday where it was heard police spotted traces of white powder across a number of surfaces when they entered the property on the afternoon of October 31, 2018.
This prompted officers to draft in a team with a search warrant which uncovered the scheme.
Procurator fiscal David McDonald told the court: “Police knocked on the door and received no response, therefore both officers entered the premises to ensure everything was in order.
“They noted that there was no one at the property but there was clear signs of drug production and supply with white powder visible on cupboards and worktops.
“Police exited the property to await the arrival of other officers and for a drug search warrant to be sought.
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“Police also contacted the landlord who contacted the tenant, Graham Reid, who said he had no knowledge of a break in.”
During the “extensive” search of the flat, located in the town’s Main Street, a number of items relating to drug supply and production were recovered, including a safe under the sink containing six bags of white powder and another gold foil bag containing white powder; a pestle and mortar; two sets of digital scales; a food mixer; a hydraulic press and plates and a number of utensils found in different locations in the property.
All items contained traces of white powder.
Cops also found paperwork belonging to Reid as well as a KFC receipt from Darnley in Glasgow which officers used to check CCTV at the fast food outlet proving Reid purchased items there.
The court heard that during forensic examinations of the powder and items found, only one of the six bags contained cocaine weighing 53.5g.
The five other bags - three weighing 250g and two weighing 115g, were found not to contain any controlled drugs.
The gold foil bag contained 53.9g of benzocaine - a anaesthetic substance commonly used as an additive in street cocaine
Mr McDonald told the court that the 53.5g bag of cocaine had a value of £1,000 and that the hydraulic presses were used to compress the substances into blocks into the style of an imported product to “increase value”.
He added: “The accused admitted he was the tenant of the property but that he had allowed someone else to live there.
“He denied any knowledge of the cocaine but during his interview he admitted to using cocaine every day.
“He claimed the presses were there because he had been doing ‘homers’ for clients on their cars.
“He stated he had run up debts regarding his cocaine use and that his fingerprints may be found on the disposable gloves as he used them for work.”
Graham admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug on October 31, 2018, when he appeared in the dock.
His lawyer told that Reid became involved in the drug operation was “heavily indebted” due to his use of the Class A drug.
He added: “He was advised there was a way to stop this and that was to agree to this enterprise which he then foolishly agreed to do.”
Sheriff Brian Mohan said evidence uncovered signalled the flat was being used in a “significant street operation” despite there being limited controlled drugs found.
He added: “Clearly this is a significant matter and it was a significant enterprise which was running from this address.”
Reid, now of Bowfield Crescent, Glasgow, will return to court for sentencing on April 25.
