Two drug dealers have been jailed for seven and a half years after being targeted by cops in a covert operation.
Gavin Kirkaldy, 30, from Dunfermline, and Ian Smith, 51, from Liverpool, were watched by officers swapping a bag containing two kilograms of high purity cocaine in a pub car park in East Kilbride on November 6 last year.
Officers swooped on both men and seized the Class A drugs, with an estimated street value of £600,000 as well as £38,000 in cash.
Both men were charged and appeared in court.
Smith was today sentenced to 45 months in prison.
Kirkaldy had already appeared for sentencing on October 30 and was also jailed for 45 months.
Detective Inspector Tom Gillan said: “This is another example of how targeted investigations and pro-active activity is impacting those who think they can profit from the movement and supply of controlled drugs destined for the streets and communities of Scotland.”
“Every organisation is committed to working together towards Scotland’s Organised Crime Strategy and Taskforce and determined to make the country a hostile environment for criminals such as Kirkaldy and Smith to operate.”
The bust was a joint operation between Police Scotland and National Crime Agency through their Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) partnership.
NCA operations manager John McGowan said:“Operations like this show the benefit of the NCA and Police Scotland working together and sharing intelligence to tackle cross-border crime.
“Through the OCP we were able to act quickly to catch these criminals in the act, seizing their drugs and cash at the same time.
“The NCA and Police Scotland will continue to work together to stop organised criminals profiting on the supply of drugs, which in turn will help reduce violent crime across Scotland and the rest of the UK.”
