A COATBRIDGE man has been jailed for supplying more than half a million pounds worth of drugs.

Gerrard Molloy had earlier admitted two charges of being involved in serious and organised crime and the supply of drugs.

On suspicion that 44-year-old was acting as a courier for an organised crime group, police had been carrying out surveillance on Molloy and on December 27 last year, officers stopped the vehicle he was driving on the M74 just north of Abington.

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In the rear compartment they discovered two large cardboard boxes containing vacuum packed bags of what was later confirmed to be 20 kilograms of cannabis.

A search of his Coatbridge home a short time afterwards uncovered two sets of scales, a sum of cash, parts of a hydraulic press and 3.25kg of cocaine.

The total street value of the cannabis and cocaine was estimated to be £625,000.

He was jailed for six years for his part in the crime.

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Speaking following the sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh today, Nicky Patrick, Procurator Fiscal for Homicide and Major Crime, said: “Gerard Molloy was involved in bringing significant quantities of harmful drugs into Scotland for onward sale.

“This conviction means another large quantity of cannabis and cocaine has been taken out of the illegal drug supply chain.

“We will continue to work with the police and other agencies to dismantle organised crime groups and keep communities safe by reducing their exposure to these illegal drugs and the harm they cause.”