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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Lanarkshire Live

Lanarkshire man's fingerprints found on cocaine cutting agent when cops raided house

A drugs courier was caught after his fingerprints were found on a bag containing a substance that’s mixed with cocaine.

Graeme Miller, 36, was warned he could be jailed for his part in the criminal enterprise.

Miller, of Greenfield Drive, Wishaw, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine at a house in the town’s North Dryburgh Road on September 26, 2019.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard the property was empty when police officers arrived with a search warrant.

Aga Mathieson, prosecuting, said they found drugs and digital scales in a safe in an upstairs bedroom.

She stated: “There was a bag containing 111 grammes of cocaine with 80 per cent purity. It had a potential value of £4,455.

“The accused’s fingerprints were found on another bag that contained benzocaine, a cutting agent that is mixed with cocaine.”

Hamilton Sheriff Court (Lanarkshire Live)

Scott Bannatyne, 25, of Gorsehall Street, Cleland, was also in the dock, but had his not guilty plea to the charge accepted.

Defence agent Calum Weir said that at the time of the offence Miller was struggling with alcohol and cocaine addiction.

Mr Weir told the court: “His job was effectively to deliver the substance and he used the money he received to fund his own habit.

“It was stupid and he fully understands that he was part of the drugs chain of supply.

“He now lives a sober life, is in full time employment and has a stable relationship.”

Sheriff Martin Jones noted that Miller has previous convictions for “serious violence and disorder”.

The sheriff told him: “Supplying Class A drugs at this level is extremely serious.

“I am prepared to call for a criminal justice social work report, but £4500 of cocaine is significant and well past the custodial threshold.”

Miller will return to court for sentence next month.

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