Three men jailed for trafficking 'significant' quantity of drugs into Moray

Three men have been jailed for their part in smuggling a “significant” quantity of drugs into the north of Scotland.

Jason Addison, 39, Dennis Latham, 29, and Michael Tait, 30, who were part of an organised crime group in Moray, have been sentenced to more than eight years in prison at the High Court in Glasgow.

Addison was sentenced to one year and Latham and Tait each to three years and nine months after all previously pleading guilty.

The man running the operation, Conor McGregor, was previously sentenced to six years behind bars at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The 33-year-old was convicted of being involved in serious organised crime, including trafficking significant quantities of cannabis, cocaine, diamorphine and amphetamine, between May, 2019 and July, 2022 at various locations including Moray, Aviemore and Clydebank.

He was extradited from Morocco and pled guilty to the offences.

As part of the investigation, Gavin Bowie, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison. The 34-year-old had pled guilty for his involvement in serious organised crime, including trafficking significant quantities of cannabis, cocaine and amphetamine at addresses in Buckie, as well as other locations in Moray and Badenoch, between May, 2019 and June, 2020.

The group was dismantled as part of Operation Venetica, a Europe-wide operation to identify and charge organised crime groups that utilised encrypted devices.

Detective Inspector Angus Morrison said: “Police Scotland is committed to removing illegal substances from our communities and we will take all measures to disrupt those involved in the drug trade.

“Serious and organised crime causes significant harm to our communities and this work is a priority as part of the wider approach to tackling it through the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce.

“These men will now face the consequences of their actions.

“Information from the public is vital and we urge anyone with information or concerns about drugs in their community to contact Police Scotland through 101. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.”