Four men responsible for couriering and distributing cannabis and amphetamine to and from West Lothian have been jailed.
Ryan Mayberry (33), Hugh McAnna (52), Gordon Stewart (50), and Patrick McKervey (31) were previously convicted of various drug offences following a large-scale police investigation to target those involved in serious and organised crime.
Between March and October 2012 detectives carried out covert enquiries in the West Lothian area resulting in significant drug and cash recoveries.
On the 6th April, police stopped a vehicle on the A706 in Breich, during which time 200kilos of cannabis was recovered.
Another 100kilos of cannabis was then seized during an intelligence-led search of a car at the Harthill Service Station on 4th May. In addition, 10kilos of amphetamine was also found inside.
A further vehicle search was carried out in Harthill at Victoria Road on 31st May, where officers recovered around 94kilos of cannabis.
The recovered drugs have a combined potential value of £1.8 million. As a result of these enquiries, £60,000 in cash was also seized.
At the High Court in Edinburgh today (Thursday) Maybery and McKervey were both sentenced to 57 months in prison, while McAnna and Stewart were jailed for 45 months.
Detective Superintendent David Gordon from the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit said: “In total, we have seized hundreds of kilos of cannabis and a significant amount of amphetamine, which were intended for distribution within West Lothian communities.
“Those responsible were mostly from the local area. However, Patrick McKervey is from Coventry, demonstrating how far-reaching crime networks can extend.
“As a result of a complex intelligence gathering operation, we were able to carry out significant enforcement activity in 2012, resulting in the convictions of all four men.
“Their conviction today is testament to the joint commitment of both police and Crown Office in removing serious and organised criminals from our communities.
“Ryan Mayberry was the head of this group in Scotland, while McKervey was the organiser for the English end of the operation. Their convictions, along with the convictions of their associates, send a clear message that we will continue to target serious organised crime to keep our communities safe.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
