Police dog Hamish sniffs out £24,000 drugs haul hidden in flowers

Two drug dealers, who tried to hide a £24,000 haul of heroin and cocaine in a package of flowers, were no match for Hamish the sniffer dog.

The canine crimebuster detected the unmistakable whiff of class A drugs when the package – from Liverpool and addressed to “Kev” in Tillydrone – arrived at the Ashgrove Road sorting office.

Inside the package of flowers were Ziplock bags containing the drugs, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.

The discovery, at around 7.30am on December 16 2024, led police to the address on the label, where Kevin Scott, 47, and Martin Winder, 44, were found.

Appearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Scott and Winder listened as fiscal depute Rebecca Thompson narrated the facts.

She explained how Hamish had been dispatched to sniff out drugs inside parcels arriving at the sorting office.

Routine drugs sweep at sorting office

“In the course of the scanning, Hamish indicated on a parcel addressed to ‘KEV, Kings Court, Tillydrone, Aberdeen.

“The package was crudely wrapped.

“Tracking information identified that it had been sent from Penny Lane Post Office, Liverpool, on 15 December 2024.”

Officers then forced entry at the address and Scott and Winder were both arrested.

The court heard that a further search of the flat recovered mobile phones, bundles of cash and instructions for the production of crack cocaine.

Ms Thompson continued: “The package seized from the Post Office was found to contain a bouquet of flowers, alongside five separate packages containing controlled drugs sealed within a number of Ziplock bags.

“The seized substances were subsequently forensically examined and, on analysis, found to be a total of 140 wraps of a brown substance containing diamorphine and 97 wraps of a white substance containing cocaine of varying weights.”

Drugs found inside parcel

£19,240 of heroin, £4,810 of cocaine and £10,670 in cash were recovered.

Defending Winder, Andrew Ormiston said his client had “fallen off the wagon” of abstaining from drugs and had run up a debt, and this resulted in his offending.

Mr Ormiston cited several character references submitted in support of his client and spoke to his volunteering work at a drug rehabilitation agency.

He said Winder had not offended since 2001 and was now trying to be a positive role model for his two children, urging the sheriff to give a community-based disposal.

Ian Woodward-Nutt spoke in defence of Scott and said his client was currently enrolled in a residential drug rehabilitation programme due to end in five months.

He argued that there was a greater public interest in his client completing the whole course, which also includes a further 12 months of programme work following the residential aspect.

Sheriff William Summers told both Winder and Scott: “Each of you has pleaded guilty to a serious offence involving controlled drugs.

“Very often offences of this type would result in a custodial sentence.”

To Winder, he said: “You have a low risk of reoffending. And I have listened to all that has been said on your behalf and am satisfied I can impose an alternative to a custodial sentence.”

Sentencing

As a direct alternative to jail, Winder, of Edge Lane, Liverpool, was placed under supervision for two years and ordered to carry out 210 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.

To Scott, Sheriff Summers said: “It is quite clear that the public interest will be served by allowing you to complete the course of rehabilitation.”

Scott, whose address was given as Auchinleck Crescent, Aberdeen, was also placed under supervision for two years and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.

[Source: Press and Journal]