Man handed unpaid work for part in trafficking '£2.4m cocaine haul'

Graham Curran, 35, was clocked handing over the illegal haul to an associate in Paisley, Renfrewshire, on August 18, 2020.

Graham Curran sentenced to unpaid work for part in trafficking ‘£2.4m cocaine haul’ iStock

A man who was involved in the trafficking of up to £2.4m worth of cocaine has been ordered to undertake unpaid work.

Graham Curran, 35, was clocked handing over the illegal haul to an associate in Paisley, Renfrewshire, on August 18, 2020.

The drugs – which had a purity of up to 54% – had been wrapped and stashed inside bags.

Curran pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine when he appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.

The offence was aggravated by a connection with organised crime.

However on Friday, Curran was shown mercy by judge Lady Scott who ordered him to undertake 225 hours of unpaid work as well as two years’ supervision.

She said the charge related to a single delivery and noted that he did “not have a criminal lifestyle”.

The judge added: “You recognise the dangers and the effects this has on the community.

“You have four non-analogous previous convictions over 15 years and never served a period in custody.

“You have a stable life with steady employment and four young children.

“I’m satisfied that it’s best for your future without reoffending.”

An earlier hearing was told how police were initially keeping tabs on a man called Allan Ferguson during a large-scale drugs probe.

They later clocked him parking his Ford Transit van in Foxbar Crescent, Paisley, where Curren then pulled up in a Volkswagen Golf.

Prosecutor Michael Macintosh said: “Curran exited the vehicle and removed a large weighted orange shopping bag and a polythene bag which he then handed to Ferguson.”

Curran then drove off before police initially stopped Ferguson.

A total of 20kg of cocaine – with a potential value of £2m-£2.4m – was seized during a search of Ferguson’s home in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire.

Officers also seized £2950 in cash, drug equipment and other items.

The court heard Ferguson has since been jailed for four years after he pled guilty to cocaine supply and possession of a stun gun at a hearing last September.

Curran, meantime, was arrested in November 2020 while in his car in Paisley.

He made no comment to the accusations at the time.

Tony Graham, defending, said Curran, of Glasgow’s Easterhouse, had a lesser involvement than Ferguson.

The QC added: “He properly understands he has to pay the penalty for what he did, his involvement and punishment for the crime he committed for which he took a risk.”

STV News is now on WhatsApp

Get all the latest news from around the country

Follow STV News
Follow STV News on WhatsApp

Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

WhatsApp channel QR Code