Undercover police operation busts 'drugs on demand' gang in Edinburgh and Inverness

A man has been jailed for four and a half years for his role in a sophisticated county lines drug dealing operation in Scottish cities.

Imer Quashi, 43, was the sixth member of the ‘drugs on demand’ organised crime group to be sentenced following undercover police deployments in Edinburgh and Inverness.

Quashi was linked to high purity cocaine worth nearly £200,000 on the streets following surveillance operations which cracked down on the illicit trade.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that as part of the initiative, undercover officers made purchases of the Class A drug by first sending a Whatsapp message.

A call handler would then contact a runner to make the delivery before the purchaser was contacted with a location for the drugs handover and a description of the delivery vehicle.

When the undercover officer attended the site, he would enter the runner’s car as instructed and cocaine would be handed over for the sum of money agreed in advance.

The drugs bought in the deals by undercover officers were then sent for analysis by police. The lines used for the drug dealing were found to be based at an address in London.

Advocate depute Ross Price said that in May 2023 an officer made a test purchase in Edinburgh of cocaine through the drug dealing scheme for £80.

DNA from Quashi, who was previously jailed for 33 months for trafficking cocaine in England, was found on packaging.

The prosecutor said Quashi was seen at various locations in Edinburgh and Inverness meeting up with individuals involved in the drugs trade.

A series of searches were also carried out at properties in the two cities which recovered cocaine that was more than 70% pure along with sums of cash and mobile phones.

During one search at Larchwood Drive, in Inverness, 228 wraps of cocaine were recovered along with a block of more than half a kilo of the drug. Officers also seized £4,700 in cash, scales and an Oyster card, used for travelling on the London underground and buses, with cocaine residue on it.

Quashi was arrested on September 5, 2023 at a flat in Edinburgh and during an interview denied trafficking cocaine with others.

But at a court hearing earlier this month Quashi, who followed proceedings with the aid of an Albanian interpreter, admitted being concerned in the supply of the drug between May 17 and September 5, 2023.

The offence occurred at Gorgie Road, Waverley train station, Meadowbank retail park and at addresses in Lawrie Reilly Place, Elgin Terrace and Stewart Terrace in Edinburgh. It also took place at Larchwood Drive, Douglas Row and Clachnaharry Road, in Inverness and at apartments in London.

Quashi’s offending was aggravated by having a connection to serious, organised crime.

Judge Michael O’ Grady KC told the drug offender he would have faced a five year jail term, but for his guilty plea.

The Crown is to bring a proceeds of crime action against Quashi in a bid to seize illegal profits.