Police stop near Kingussie helps thwart Liverpool crime group called Scouse Jack that brought hard drugs to the Highlands including Inverness, Nairn and Aviemore
A shocking insight into how an organised crime group from the north of England targeted Inverness and the Highlands was given at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Fiscal depute David Morton detailed the sophistication of the drug dealing system used by a Liverpool crime gang known as Scouse Jack to bring heroin and cocaine to Inverness, Nairn and Aviemore, and how intelligence gathering and tracking of mobile phones by police played a vital role in trapping the pushers.
Mr Morton told Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald that as far back as September 2019, the organised crime group was first seen to operate in and around Inverness selling heroin and cocaine.
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On March 9, 2021 police received intelligence that a vehicle containing members of Scouse Jack was travelling up the A9 to Inverness and was “potentially carrying drugs”.
The vehicle was stopped by road policing officers near Kingussie, and Carl Masher (26), from Liverpool, and another person were inside having travelled from Liverpool.
Mr Morton said: “The group operated a dealing line whereby customers would text the line seeking to purchase drugs. Messages would be exchanged giving the places and process required for obtaining the drugs.”
He added that the dealing line would also message to advise customers when they were “open for business” in and around Inverness.
“Messages would be sent in bulk to numerous people at a time,” said Mr Morton, with various handsets being used to operate the Scouse Jack dealing line, with drug telecommunications continuing on an almost daily basis.
Sheriff MacDonald was told that the crime group at that time used a “vulnerable” Inverness man, Christopher Gow (41), who was a drug user.
Mr Morton said: “Gow was trusted by the group and he trusted them and he would collect money and traffic drugs on their behalf.”
Gow’s address was kept under surveillance by police and in June 2021 officers raided the premises and among paraphernalia of drug dealing was seized £5460 in cash and 111 wraps of heroin in “half gram rock deals” with a street value up to £2310, Mr Morton said.
He added that police also seized a card from the Scouse Jack group sent to Gow that read: “Happy Birthday bro’. Hope you enjoy your little gift. Ha, ha. Love from the gang. You’re part of the team.”
Both Masher and Gow pleaded guilty on indictment to being concerning in the supply of controlled drugs.
Sheriff MacDonald called for criminal justice and social work reports on both men and deferred sentence until November 19 when defence lawyers will give pleas in mitigation on their behalf .
Masher was remanded in custody and Gow’s bail was continued.
