3 days ago
Glasgow man caught with £1m of cocaine in secret hideaway
Michael O'Lone was stopped on the M74 near junction 10 at Lesmahagow, in Lanarkshire, in April 2024.
The 34-year-old had previously been freed from a jail-term for growing cannabis when he was snared again.
O'Lone has now been locked up once more after he pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to a charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine.
Prosecutor Eilidh Robertson told how O'Lone was the only person in the van when it was halted.
She then explained: "The vehicle was searched. A total of 10 blocks of powder in bags were recovered from a compartment under the driver's seat which could be operated with hydraulics."
A sensor button to open the hideaway was seized. O'Lone's DNA was also found in that area of the van.
Police further discovered an iPhone - messages linked O'Lone to the drug trafficking including him discussing the collection of "paper" - slang for money - with an associate.
There was also a photo of white powder being weighed on scales.
Miss Roberston said the cocaine had a purity as high as 82% with a potential street value of £1,004,000.
Thomas Ross KC, defending, stated O'Lone, of the city's Castlemilk, was released from his last sentence in July 2022.
He had been jailed for 14 months for being involved in the production of cannabis.
Mr Ross: "As far as this (latest) offence is concerned, there is very little to offer other than the value of the cocaine is high, but he would not have benefitted directly from the sale of drugs."
O'Lone had got involved to help repay a debt owed by him. The KC stated he was a man "capable of very much better".
Lord Cubie cut the jail-term from eight years due to the plea.
The judge said O'Lone "knew fine well" what he was getting involved in, stating drugs "corrode, damage and destroy" lives.
Referring to O'Lone previous prison stint, Lord Cube told him: "You had your second chance and chose to deal with it with this most serious offending."
