Duo who planned to smuggle drugs in Kinder Eggs jailed for 13 years

The Herald Scotland

10 hours ago

McAllister, 53, was convicted of directing others – including Lamb – to commit offences including the sale and supply of controlled drugs, which included cocaine, heroin, spice, cannabis and etizolam.
Lamb was convicted of being concerned in serious organised crime, including the sale and supply of the same drugs.
Their scheme also included plans to smuggle drugs into a prison hidden inside Kinder Eggs.
They were both sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh after pleading guilty to their roles.
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McAllister, of Glasgow, was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison while Lamb, also of Glasgow, will spend five years and four months behind bars.
Sineidin Corrins, Depute Procurator Fiscal for Specialist Casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: 'This is a significant prosecution. These two individuals played pivotal roles in a coordinated operation to distribute illegal and harmful drugs.
'With this conviction, we have removed these drugs from the streets and made communities safer.
'This successful prosecution underscores our determination to continue to disrupt serious organised crime.
'We will continue to collaborate with our partners as a member of Scotland's Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce to tackle serious organised crime and this kind of case highlights the extensive work that has been ongoing against these groups.'
McAllister was linked to the Escalade serious organised crime group with evidence secured by police revealing he was issuing direct instructions to Lamb.
In addition, McAllister directed others in the storage, preparation, transportation and movement of controlled drugs.
The court was told McAllister was also involved in directing other to conceal criminal property, specifically money and jewellery, associated with the proceeds of crime.
On one occasion, McAllister was directing Lamb to hand over £25,000 to a shop to be laundered.
Other evidence related to conversations about smuggling drugs into prisons hidden inside balloons and Kinder Eggs.
McAllister was also heard discussing the delivery of cocaine and heroin, while he also referred to a 'stash house' where he planned to have a woman and child live to make the property seem legitimate.
Lamb was eventually arrested in March 2023 after a search of his home revealed a quantity of drugs which included a quantity of Kinder Eggs containing drugs wrapped in Sellotape.
The following day, McAllister was also arrested after police recovered numerous sim cards, phones and small quantities of cash during a search of his house.
When police carried out a subsequent search of his sister's house, they found a bag that had previously been dropped off by McAllister.
Within that bag was a mobile phone linked to McAllister which contained incriminating messages that demonstrated his involvement in the source and supply of cocaine and adulterant.
The bag also contained bottles of THC, cash totalling £10,000, scales containing traces of cocaine and four watches valued cumulatively between £23,000 and £30,000.