Three men jailed for large-scale supply of Class A drugs across Glasgow and central belt

Three men have been jailed for their involvement in the large-scale supply of Class A drugs across the central belt.

Paul Martin, 43, Peter Dickson, 34 and Grant Japp, 30, were sentenced to five years and eight months, four years and three months, and three years and four months respectively at the High Court in Edinburgh on Friday.

The three men had previously pled guilty at the High Court in Glasgow.

Police executed a number of warrants in Glasgow which led to the arrest of Jaap in May 2021, with further enquiries resulting in Dickson being apprehended.

Officers said a “complex investigation” identified Martin as the ring-leader after infiltration of the encrypted messaging service Encrochat via Operation Venetic.

Venetic is regarded as the most significant UK operation into serious and organised crime involving Police Scotland, the National Crime Agency and forces across the UK.

Martin fled to Spain before he could be arrested but was traced and extradited to Scotland in August 2022.

Detective Inspector Phillip Kennedy said: “These men made a substantial amount of money from a drugs operation importing and selling Class A drugs in the central belt of Scotland.

“Martin, in particular, lived a lavish lifestyle with properties in Scotland and Spain.

“The three men blighted our communities with drugs and their sentencing comes after a complex investigation.

“Disrupting the activities of organised crime groups and making the country an extremely hostile environment for them to operate is one of Police Scotland’s top priorities.

“There is no place for serious organised criminality in our society and, working in partnership with law enforcement agencies and the members of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, we will continue our fight against those involved in serious and organised crime to keep our communities safe.”

Anyone who has information or concerns about the sale and supply of drugs in their community is urged to contact Police Scotland via 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.