Trio behind bars after they were caught in a high-end drugs bust

Grant Jaap, 30, Paul Martin, 43, and Peter Dickson, 34, were snared by police who cracked an encrypted phone network used by underworld figures.

Martin - described as the "principal" - directed "second in command" Dickson and Martin in the purchasing and selling of kilos of cocaine and heroin in Scotland's central belt.

Police swooped in May 2022 as part of Operation Depth which focused on the crime gang.

This was linked to the Europe-wide Operation Venetic - an investigation into the top secret Encrochat phone network used by criminals.

Messages uncovered Martin joking with Jaap that the high demand for cocaine during lockdown would pay for his holiday to Ibiza.

He also teased off-shore worker Dickson to work harder as he wouldn't be able to "chill in the sun" otherwise.

The leader further spoke about "wages" with Jaap while Dickson discussed "supply issues" due to the lockdown.

Martin was hauled back from Tenerife and was held in custody to appear in the dock today.

Jaap, Martin and Dickson pled guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to being involved in serious organised crime.

The court heard Martin held the username "Happy.com" and sent 18,596 messages on the Encrochat server.

Dickson was known as "Tubbyraven" while Jaap had the name "Lividbeta."

Prosecutor Neil McCulloch said: "It was established Martin was the principal of the organisation and was involved in the adulteration and distribution of Class A drugs across the central belt of Scotland.

"He is connected with other organised crime group members and can source significant quantities of drugs at a time.

"He has various associates in his drugs supply group - primarily Dickson who was his second in command.

"Jaap was asked by Martin to store, adulterate and distribute multi-kilo quantities of cocaine and heroin.

"They used encryption devices to contact each other to conduct their business."

Mr McCulloch read out a number of examples of conversations between the trio between March and June 2020.

Martin and Jaap discussed difficulties of transporting substances from London to Glasgow.

There was also discussion about meeting a courier to transport drugs to Edinburgh.

Martin was noted to give Jaap "passwords" for some of the transactions.

Mr McCulloch said: "On April 8 2020, they exchanged messages suggesting that demand for cocaine will be so high by the end of lockdown that they'll need 20 kilos to meet it.

"Martin joked that he will have it and Jaap said that it would pay for his holiday to Ibiza."

Dickson meantime was noted to arrange "quality testing" of drugs.

He contacted Martin to say that an unknown user is paying £19,000 for heroin and wanted to offer it to him for £18,000.

Dickson was also discussed collecting money from various individuals which he passed to Martin.

This included £95,200 which was dropped off in a package.

Mr McCulloch added: "Martin joked with Dickson that he ought to be working harder saying 'How am I meant to get away and chill in the sun if you aren't working'."

On May 2 2020, Martin told Jaap that he had sold 27 kilos of heroin for which he had paid £500,000.

Mr McCulloch: "Martin told Jaap to add a further username to his Encrochat contact list. They thereafter discussed Martin's payment of Jaap's wages.

"Two days later, Martin messages Jaap saying he would pay him £1,000."

There was also a discussion between Martin and Dickson about selling £20,000 of heroin to an unknown party.

The pair also chatted about a deal where the buyer would pay £10,000 up front."

Supply issues were also discussed at the end of May as a result of the lockdown. 

Police raided Jaap's home in Glasgow's Tollcross on May 28 2021.

Officers recovered £79,862 of cocaine and £296,672 of heroin from Jaap's bedroom.

Martin's property in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, did not have drugs inside but designer goods and clothing worth £48,882 were found.

Officers did a detailed investigation into Martin's financial affairs and determined that significant sums were deposited into his bank accounts during the timescale of the operation.

It was stated that the deposits far exceeded his declared income and his level of expenditure went beyond which could have been sustained by it.

Dickson's property was also searched and he was arrested.

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Judge Lord Matthews remanded all three men in custody meantime.