Drugs trafficker ordered to hand over £9,000 made from cocaine dealing in Aberdeen

A drugs trafficker whose co-accused was the first man in legal history to get a ‘county lines’ conviction has been ordered to hand over more than £9,000 to the authorities.

Rory Morgan, 32, was told he would have to hand over a total of £9,115 following a proceeds of crime hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday.

He had been convicted earlier this year alongside Dean Alford, 39, of operating an organised cocaine dealing operation in Aberdeen.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Alford was using two flats in the city during the operation which were raided by officers after police received intelligence.

The court heard that cocaine and cash worth in excess of £40,000 was recovered from the properties during searches.

Alford and Morgan admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug at addresses in Granton Place and Esslemont Avenue in the city on June 19 last year, when they appeared at court.

Advocate depute Brian Gill KC told the court that the accused rented and frequented the two properties.

The prosecutor said: “On June 18, 2024 police had received intelligence that an organised crime group, including the first accused (Alford), dealing in drugs in the Aberdeen area was using the two flats.”

When officers went to the Esslemont Avenue flat they detained Alford and saw Morgan run to a bathroom and try to flush items down a toilet.

They went to the second flat in Granton Place and found no one in but discovered drugs at the address. DNA from Alford was found on packaging containing drugs. Cash in excess of £9,000 was recovered along with cocaine during the seizures.

The court heard that Alford, a prisoner in HMP Grampian, has twice been jailed for Class A drugs offences in England, including an 11-year term imposed on him in 2016 at Woolwich Crown Court in London.

Mr Gill said he was also subject to a slavery and trafficking prevention order imposed on following conviction for human trafficking offences.

Prosecutors launched a proceeds of crime action against Morgan. On Monday, the court heard how both prosecutors and defence lawyers had agreed that Morgan had made £9,115 from his criminal activities.

Judge Alison Stirling gave him six months to settle the sum.