A county lines drug gang who flooded Scotland with heroin and crack cocaine were caught after a six-month police investigation.
Five people were charged after the drug smuggling operation was uncovered by officers from North East Division's Organised Crime Unit in 2020. Detectives pieced together evidence of the illegal supply from London to properties in Aberdeen city centre and Rosemount.
The investigation dubbed Operation Dismantle led to the conviction of ring-leader Donovan Gilbert Smith from an address in Hornchurch, London, on July 7, 2020.
The 27-year-old was traced at the property along with around £55,000 in cash and proceeds of crime in excess of £100,000. Smith was revealed as the man orchestrating the county line.
His four associates were earlier arrested, with three arrests taking place in Scotland. In March 2020, Zamar Green, 21, was traced at a property in Aberdeen's Charlotte Street, along with dealer quantities of heroin, crack cocaine and a four figure sum of cash.
He appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and was banned from returning to Scotland. He has since been sentenced to two behind bars for his involvement in the operation.
Gavion Hugh Smith, 25, was arrested following an intelligence-led bust at an address on Union Terrace in June 2020. Large amounts of heroin, crack cocaine and a four figure sum of cash were recovered.
At the time, Gavion Smith appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and was also prohibited from returning to Scotland. He has since been jailed for three years for his involvement in the illegal drugs trade.
A further two people - one woman, aged 22 and one man, aged 30 - were arrested and charged with Class A drug supply offences. Both were revealed as couriers for the gang, with one based in London and the other in Aberdeen. The 22-year-old woman was given a community payback order and the 30-year-old man was sentenced to serve 290 days in jail.
Donovan Smith has been remanded in custody since his arrest in July 2020. On April 12, he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to his involvement and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
Speaking today, Detective Chief Inspector Karen Main said: “This investigation has disrupted a supply line of drugs from London to Aberdeen and reinforces our commitment to weeding out those involved in county lines drug supply. Illegal drugs cause misery and harm to our communities and we will continue to use all available resources to ensure they are removed from our streets and that those involved in pedalling them are apprehended.”
If anyone has concerns around county lines or drug dealing in their community, please call Police Scotland via 101 and report your concerns.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here.
