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A drug dealer was caught after a police dog at a post office detected a parcel containing cocaine with a maximum street value of £500,000, a court has heard.
Mark Longmuir, 47, was snared after police conducted a search at a Royal Mail sorting office in Mastrick, Aberdeen, on October 11 2023.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard the canine sniffed out a large quantity of illegal substances in a special delivery package addressed to Longmuir.
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The court heard how the animal’s discovery led to the discovery of two packages which contained 999 and 992 grams of the drug.
On Wednesday afternoon, prosecutor Brian Gill KC told judge Lord Lake: “In the morning of October 11 2023, police officers were conducting a search of the Royal Mail Mastrick sorting office in Aberdeen.
“A drug dog identified a special delivery bag. The bag indicated a special delivery. It was addressed to Mark Longmuir of Tay Road in Aberdeen.
“The officer suspected it contained controlled drugs and took possession of it.”
Mr Gill said specialist officers then found two packages which contained cocaine which have could netted sellers almost £500,000 on the streets.
The story emerged after Longmuir, of Aberdeen, pleaded guilty to a single charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine.
Mr Gill told the court that the accused had 30 previous convictions and had previously served a six year term for drugs offences which had been imposed upon him at Liverpool Crown Court.
He told the court that detectives seized Longmuir’s mobile phone and found a message on it which detailed the tracking number for the package.
He was charged with drugs offences soon afterwards.
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On Wednesday, defence advocate Kenneth Cloggie told Lord Lake that his client was paid £200 to receive the drugs at his home in the Granite City.
Mr Cloggie added: “He is addicted to valium. He would take 20 valium tablets a day. He has told me that he took part in this scheme in the expectation of receiving more valium tablets.”
Mr Cloggie asked Lord Lake to exercise leniency with his client and said that the evidence showed that he didn’t have a major role in drug dealing.
Mr Cloggie added: “He has been exploited by those further up the chain.”
Passing sentence, Lord Lake told Longmuir that if he hadn’t pleaded guilty, he would have received six years and six months for the crime.
Lord Lake told him that since he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, he would receive a discount and would serve four years and eight months in prison.
He added: “The harm caused to the community by drugs is well known to this court. The quantity of drugs which were seized could have caused substantial harm to the community.
“I have taken account of your criminal record. The sentence will be one of four years and eight months.”
As he was being led away, Longmuir made a comment about his sentence telling court room security guards: “F****** hell man.”
