A CONVICTED dealer once ordered to give up his expensive art collection is back behind bars after £1.7m drugs raids.

Robert Wright, 55, was held last December after police swooped at an industrial yard in Glasgow's east end.

Detectives discovered a van there that had been converted in a mobile drugs lab.

Significant hauls of cannabis and cocaine were seized during the large-scale probe.

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Wright was arrested a decade after he was involved with then one of Scotland's biggest ever heroin consignments.

He was later jailed for eight years – and then stripped of assets under tough Proceeds of Crimes Laws.

This included his Peter Howson painting Study for the Opera Don Giovanni as well as seven works by Scots artist Frank McFadden.

Wright now faces another lengthy prison stint after he pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

He was remanded in custody pending sentencing next month.

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Wright and a number of associates were snared as part of the Operation Croupier probe.

He was clocked driving a Mercedes into a yard in the city's Dennistoun last December 13.

Two other men – Brian McCulley, 39, and Peter Ewing, 53, – then turned up in a Ford Mondeo.

The trio stood chatting at the open boot of the car before McCulley and Ewing left.

The pair were eventually held close to Lochwinnoch train station in Renfrewshire.

A total of 38kg of cannabis and cannabis resin was discovered in the Ford.

Wright, of the city's Milton, was again spotted near the yard that day. He was also held, but made no comment.

Officers meantime clocked a fourth man – Terence Connelly, 31, – driving another Mercedes into the site.

Police swooped as he stood at the entrance of a metal shipping container that had “traces of white powder” on its floor.

The yard was then searched – at the site was a static trailer, five vans, three containers and a skip.

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The High Court in Glasgow heard this included a Ford Transit parked there.

Prosecutor Duncan McPhie said: “Police searched it and found that it contained a press.

“It appeared that the van was being used to adulterate and package controlled drugs

“In addition to the press and multiple packages of cocaine, officers found cutting agents, a sieve, a mask and a blender.”

Inside a silver Volkswagen van meantime, officers discovered “significant quantities” of cannabis and resin.

Mr McPhie: “Forensic evidence was recovered linking this van to Wright.”

A haul of cocaine and other drug items was also found in one of the containers.

The total potential value of the drugs seized in the raids was £1.73m.

McCulley, of Baillieston, and Ewing, of Bridgeton, both Glasgow, pled guilty to the same charges as Wright.

Connelly, of the city's Robroyston, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

They were also remanded as sentencing was deferred for reports.

Wright hit headlines in 2007 after he was snared with £2.88m of heroin in a raid.

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It was part of a huge £10.5m consignment of the drug later found at Glasgow Fruit Market in the city's Blochairn.

After being jailed, Wright had the paintings confiscated as well as 12 watches including Armani, Breitling and Raymond Weil makes.

Wright again faces a Proceeds of Crime hearing along with Connelly in connection with this latest case.

This is expected to occur later this year.