TWO MEN have been jailed for seven and a half years for drug dealing in the car park of a Lanarkshire pub. 

Gavin Kirkaldy and Ian Smith were seen to exchange a bag containing two kilograms of high purity cocaine in East Kilbride in November 2019. 

Officers arrested both men, aged 30 and 51 respectively, following an intelligence-led operation and seized the Class A controlled drugs, with an estimated street value of £600,000 as well as £38,000 in cash.

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Smith, of Liverpool, was today sentenced to 45 months in prison. Kirkaldy, from Dunfermline, had already appeared for sentencing on 30 October 2020 and also jailed for 45 months.

Detective Inspector Tom Gillan, of the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland), said: “This is another example of how targeted investigations and pro-active activity is impacting those who think they can profit from the movement and supply of controlled drugs destined for the streets and communities of Scotland.

“Every organisation is committed to working together towards Scotland’s Organised Crime Strategy and Taskforce and determined to make the country a hostile environment for criminals such as Kirkaldy and Smith to operate.”

NCA operations manager John McGowan, of the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland), added: “Operations like this show the benefit of the NCA and Police Scotland working together and sharing intelligence to tackle cross-border crime.

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“Through the OCP we were able to act quickly to catch these criminals in the act, seizing their drugs and cash at the same time.

“The NCA and Police Scotland will continue to work together to stop organised criminals profiting on the supply of drugs, which in turn will help reduce violent crime across Scotland and the rest of the UK.”