Motherwell man caught posting cocaine by Royal Mail

[POSTMAN]

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/265 ... oyal-mail/

A man was caught posting cocaine by Royal Mail for a drugs gang who boasted that they aimed to deliver faster than Amazon.

Mark Armstrong, 42, sent eight packages from a Post Office in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, on October 10 2023.

One of the packages was destined for Mark Longmuir - previously jailed for six years for conspiracy to supply cocaine.

The seizure of the package sent to Longmuir in Aberdeen by Armstrong led to the latter's involvement being uncovered.

Longmuir was sentenced to four years and eight months for this seizure.

Armstrong pleaded guilty today/yesterday at the High Court in Glasgow to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis.

The court heard that NHS worker Armstrong, of Wishaw, Lanarkshire, was caught on CCTV handing over the packages.

It is believed that the seven other packages not sent to Longmuir were cocaine destined for other addresses.

The package was found to contain two vacuum sealed packages of cocaine which could be sold up to £100,000.

Armstrong's home was raided in January 2024 and a string of drug related paraphernalia were seized such as scales, clingfilm and gloves.

There were post office receipts and special delivery packages of the type used to send the cocaine to Longmuir.

Officers further recovered cannabis and cannabis resin with a value of around £2,000.

Armstrong's phone was seized and analysis showed that he was involved on a group chat called "Secret Chat" on the Telegram application.

Prosecutor Jennifer Nicholson said: "It contained hundreds of messages between October 2023 and January 2024 indicating Armstrong was in a group with multiple other users and was involved in the supply of cocaine and cannabis throughout the UK."

Armstrong was seen to provide "customers" with a bank account with his name and address.

Reference was also made to the posting of the package to Longmuir and his "dismay" at police having seized "two full bricks."

There were also arrangements for the transfer of sums of money where Armstrong agreed prices, received money and confirmed the dispatch of drugs.

Armstrong was stated to be a "middle man" or "courier" for those higher up the chain.

Miss Nicholson said: "The evidence indicates a commercial operation involving large scale sale of drugs, boasting that they aim to deliver faster than Amazon."

Armstrong was arrested and gave a "no comment" interview other than to admit full ownership of the cannabis recovered which he claimed was for personal use.

He also denied that a still image of someone on CCTV from a Post Office posting cocaine was him.

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

The judge told him: "It goes without saying, these are significant offences.

"The value of the drugs are thought to be in the hundreds of thousands.

"You have a criminal record but you have not been sent to jail before.

"You have now been convicted of serious offences and your status has now changed. You are going to be remanded in custody."