TWO members of a major drugs gang were jailed for a total of 10 years after being snared in the undercover police operation which smashed crime boss Roy Dunstance's empire.

Courier Robert Ross, 23, from Craigielea Park, Renfrew, was caged for four years, and co-accused Brian Cook, 46, from Clydebank, for six years.

Ross admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis and amphetamine in April, 2014, and Cook was convicted of being concerned in the supply of cannabis, amphetamine, heroin and cocaine between July 2013 and May, 2014.

At the High Court in Glasgow Judge Thomas Hughes QC told the pair: “It is quite clear that this type of offending has catastrophic consequences for Scottish society.”

Charges against three other men were dropped during the trial. Cook denied any involvement with drugs, but was snared during Operation Brora, the police surveillance operation which targeted Dunstance’s drugs business.

Cook, who is seriously ill, was a frequent visitor at Dunstance’s right-hand man David “Pops” Hawthorne’s flat in Linkwood Crescent in Drumchapel.

He claimed he was only visiting a friend.

Hawthorne is currently serving nine year and Dunstance, originally from Drumchapel, who ran a multi-million pound racket smuggling drugs and firearms into the UK from his bolthole in Spain is serving 11 years.

Cook also faced charges of firearms and money laundering, but these were dropped during the trial.

Defence counsel Michael Anderson, representing Cook, said: “He maintains his innocence. He is seriously ill and his greatest fear that his parents will die while he is in prison or that he will die in prison.”

Defence counsel Tony Lenehan, representing Ross, said: “He worked in a car valeting business and met people who said there was money to be made. His involvement was limited.”