Scottish drugs mule flooded market with £7m of heroin in plot involving former cop
A Scottish drugs mule who flooded the UK with millions of pounds worth of heroin has been ordered to pay back just £42k.
Christopher Heaney, from Anstruther in Fife, was jailed for nine years for his involvement in a cross-border heroin conspiracy as he and four others were busted by cops following the arrest of a former police officer in 2022.
Ex-cop Steven Creasey was stopped while driving to Fife having already travelled from his home in Cardiff to Liverpool on the same day. A dog then sniffed out a professionally installed hide under the passenger seat, reports WalesOnline.
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It contained a 5kg stash of heroin and one kilogram of adulterant. A burner phone also found in his possession revealed he had been operating as a professional courier engaged by the heads of a Liverpool-based gang.
Fife-based Heaney was involved in the distribution of onward supply across the UK along with three others.
Raids were then carried out at homes in Cardiff, Liverpool, Scotland and Northumberland towards the end of 2022.
Significant items were found at the addresses, including expensive jewellery, heroin, cocaine, adulterants, opium, cannabis grows, and metal moulds for pressing powder into blocks.
All five defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial at Cardiff Crown Court in February last year. The gang members were jailed for a combination of 57 years and 2 months.
A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing was held at the same court earlier this week.
It heard how despite profiting around £125,000 as part of the operation, Heaney was ordered to pay back a fraction of £42,000. Judge Lucy Crowther ordered him to pay the sum within three months.
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If he fails to do so, he will face an additional 18 months in jail.
Speaking after sentencing, Detective Inspector Christopher McGlinchey of Police Scotland said: "This case underlines our collaborative efforts to dismantle organised crime networks that span regions.
"The significant amount of drugs trafficked by this group had the potential to inflict serious harm on our communities.
"The success of Operation Solon demonstrates strong partnership working between Police Scotland, Tarian ROCU and other partner agencies. It also reinforces our commitment to the UK's Serious and Organised Crime Strategy.
"Organised crime has no place in our society and we will continue to work relentlessly to bring those responsible to justice."
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