Police are probing claims that a batch of heroin contaminated with botulism was buried by a dealer while he served a sentence for drugs offences.

 

The Evening Times revealed yesterday that the pusher from Glasgow's east end dug up the stash and began selling it when he was released from jail recently.

It is understood the supplier from the Calton may not be aware that the heroin he is selling has been contaminated while in the soil.

Botulism is a potentially fatal illness which can cause paralysis of the arms, legs and the muscles that control breathing.

Five cases were reported earlier this month. One patient was discharged after treatment but a woman in Ayrshire died.

Further cases were announced by the NHS on Monday.

Four patients remain in Glasgow hospitals, three from the Glasgow area and one from Lanarkshire.

A fifth person is being treated at a hospital in the NHS Forth Valley region.

A senior source at an organisation which works with addicts in Glasgow told the Evening Times: "The intelligence is telling us it's coming out of the east end of Glasgow. We know the victims have scored it in the Calton.

"The dealer we suspect it's coming from has just finished a three or four year sentence for drugs offences.

"He's had heroin in the house and had heroin buried. While the heroin has been buried it's been contaminated.

"He's been jailed for three or four years and not told anyone about the stash. He's come out, dug it up and he's putting it out.

"The dealer probably doesn't even know the stuff he has dug up is contaminated with botulism.

"If he knew he'd probably stop selling it. No dealer wants to kill the clientele. They want them back as repeat customers."

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said officers are working with NHS boards and Health Protection Scotland to find the dealer.

She added: "We've passed on the information to officers and we won't go into any specifics at the moment but there are a number of enquiries ongoing."