A Police Scotland undercover operation to combat organised crime in the West of Scotland led to officers seizing almost 5000 tablets, with an estimated street value of nearly £2500, at a service station on the A9.
Perth Sheriff Court was told on Wednesday that police “received intelligence” and carried out surveillance on a Subway sandwich bar at Balhaldie, close to the border with Stirling Council.
Sixty-six-year-old John Jackson was seen sitting in the driver’s seat of a black VW Touareg car, in possession of a white carrier bag.
There was also a passenger in the vehicle.
Officers swooped to detain them and a search revealed a knotted plastic bag containing white pills.
“On analysis they were discovered to be etizolam,” stated depute fiscal Sean Maher.
The 4863 tablets had an estimated value of £2431.50.
Jackson was spared a jail sentence and instead was ordered to be supervised for 20 months as part of a community payback order.
He will also be “tagged” and will have to remain in his home from 7pm-7am for the next 10 months.
He was told the penalties were “a direct alternative to custody.”
He admitted being concerned in the supply of the class C drug at Balhaldie on October 18, 2019.
A solicitor for Jackson said he had taken part in the drugs deal to help his 39-year-old daughter who is an addict and had become involved in prostitution.
The accused, of Kenley Road, Renfrew, had two “significant convictions” in 2001 and 2002 but there was then a gap in his offending.
The lawyer urged the sheriff to impose a community-based sentence, pointing out that his client suffered from several health problems and had been diagnosed with cancer in 2016.
