Massive street Valium factory and 60,000 tablets uncovered at West Lothian industrial estate

Two men have been jailed after police uncovered a massive street Valium factory being run out of an industrial estate in West Lothian.

A raid of the units at Albyn Industrial Estate in Broxburn in December 2021 uncovered a haul of 60,000 tablets, 20,000 fake tablets, and powder capable of manufacturing a further 20,000 pills.

Pill presses normally used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical drugs and drugs estimated to have a street value of £100,000 were also discovered.

One large pill press could produce 120,000 tablets an hour, while a smaller one could manufacture 40,000 tablets an hour.

Police later searched the homes of Kevin Ramage, 64, and Derek Wilson, 36, and removed several phones, which revealed evidence of extensive drug dealing over a period of 18 months.

The pair were found guilty by a jury of being concerned in the manufacture and supply of controlled drugs between July 2020 and December 2021 following eight days of evidence.

Ramage, of Tranent, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison, while Wilson, of Broxburn, was jailed for five years and six months.

Wilson will also be subject to confiscation proceedings under Proceeds of Crime legislation to recover monies illegally obtained.

Moira Orr, who leads on major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “This was a coordinated effort to distribute significant quantities of illegal and harmful drugs.

“These men are now serving prison sentences thanks to an extensive police operation, working with COPFS, to investigate a network of drug supply.

“We are targeting all people who threaten communities across Scotland, not only drug couriers but also those who direct their movements. With each case of this type, we can help reduce the harm these drugs inflict on those communities.”