Latest news with #RoyDunstance
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Notorious Scots drug kingpin's return to crime ‘spectacularly backfires' after £750 ‘white powder' cocktail plot foiled
He'd been caged for 11 years in 2015 for running a heroin trafficking operation from Spain BACK BEHIND BARS Notorious Scots drug kingpin's return to crime 'spectacularly backfires' after £750 'white powder' cocktail plot foiled Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER kingpin gave a thumbs up as he was jailed for a drugs-linked 'white powder' rap. Roy Dunstance, 49, smiled at a woman in court after being handed a sentence of three years, four months. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Glasgow's High Court heard the shipment had a potential value of £750,000 Credit: Getty He'd admitted involvement in serious organised crime over a bid to bring in 54kg of a paracetamol substance from China. Glasgow's High Court heard it had a potential value of £750,000 as it could be mixed with caffeine to bulk out heroin deals. The shipment was addressed to Dunstance in Lochgilphead, Argyll, where he'd lived since being freed early from prison in 2022. He'd been caged for 11 years in 2015 for running a heroin trafficking operation from Spain. Cops seized £8million of the drug plus weapons in raids across Scotland. Defence lawyer John Scullion KC said the latest crime committed by Dunstance was 'a desperate attempt, at a lower level, to make money, which spectacularly backfired'. The package, addressed to him, was intercepted last September at Heathrow Airport. When cops raided his flat they found a blender, scales, clear bags and notes on 'legal highs' and 'commercial drones'. The case in 2015 heard how Dunstance's mob had been in the 'top 5%' of crime gangs in the country at that time. He was snared as part of the large-scale Operation Brora police probe. The INSIDE story of Scotland's biggest gangster - Jamie 'The Iceman' Stevenson Detectives had managed to hack into messages which showed how Dunstance was directing crew members from his home in Spain. He was later extradited from the Netherlands to face justice. David Hawthorne - one of his trusted lieutenants - was separately jailed for nine years in 2014 for his role in manning safe houses for drugs and firearms in Drumchapel, Glasgow. Dunstance was also an associate of Euan 'EJ' Johnston, gunned down in a gangland killing in the city in 2016.
STV News
2 days ago
- STV News
Former drug lord jailed after return to organised crime 'spectacularly backfired'
A former crime boss has been jailed after his plan to make money through organised crime 'spectacularly backfired'. Roy Dunstance was jailed for 11 years in 2015 for running a major trafficking operation from his Spanish hideout. Police seized almost £8m of heroin as well as deadly weapons and other drugs during a series of raids in Scotland. Dunstance was freed early from HMP Shotts in August 2022 – almost four years before his sentence was due to expire. The 49-year-old moved into a rented two-bedroom flat in Lochgilphead, Argyll and Bute, after being released. Dunstance attracted the attention of police again in September last year when a shipment of 54kg of 'white powder' was intercepted by Home Office officials at London's Heathrow Airport. It had been sent from China and marked for Dunstance, but addressed to the property next door to his. Prosecutor Neil McCulloch told the High Court in Glasgow how the powder, found to be a form of paracetamol, could be mixed with caffeine to make a substance known as 'bash'. This could then be used to help bulk out drugs to maximise profits for dealers. Mr McCulloch said if it were used to mix with heroin, there was a 'potential value' of raking in more than £750,000. Police focused on Dunstance, and he was stopped outside his home last October. The advocate depute: 'The property was searched – there were some items recovered associated with the adulteration of controlled drugs. 'These included clear bags, a blender, and scales.' Police also seized a number of handwritten notes with references to certain countries where narcotics were considered 'legal highs'. There were further comments about 'commercial drones' as well as 'various contacts' listed, some believed to be based in England. Dunstance made no comment when questioned by officers. It led to Dunstance being brought into the dock again, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of being involved in serious organised crime. His lawyer told the hearing that the former gang boss, previously said to have profited by more than £1m from drug trafficking, had been 'financially struggling' at the time. John Scullion, defending, said the boxes of white powder had been detected by the authorities 'almost immediately'. It had been a plan by Dunstance, 'destined to failure'. The KC added: 'The circumstances are redolent of a desperate attempt, at a lower level, to make money, which spectacularly backfired. 'He now bitterly regrets further involvement in criminality.' Lord Matthews jailed Dunstance for three years and four months, cutting the term from five years due to his guilty plea. He must, however, first serve six months of the sentence he was previously freed from. Dunstance gave a beaming smile and a thumbs up to a woman in court as he returned to the cells. The case in 2015 heard how Dunstance's gang had been in the 'top 5%' of crime organisations in the country at that time. He was caught as part of the large-scale Operation Brora police probe. Detectives had managed to hack into messages that showed how Dunstance was directing crew members from his home in Spain. He was later extradited from the Netherlands to face justice. David Hawthorne – one of his trusted lieutenants – was separately jailed for nine years in 2014 for his role in manning safe houses for drugs and firearms in Drumchapel, Glasgow. Dunstance was also an associate of Euan 'EJ' Johnston, gunned down in a gangland killing in the city in 2016. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Notorious drug kingpin back behind bars after return to crime backfires
Gang boss Roy Dunstance has been jailed again. A former drug kingpin is back behind bars after a quick return to crime "spectacularly backfired". Roy Dunstance was jailed for 11 years in 2015 for running a major trafficking operation from his Spanish bolthole. Police seized almost £8m of heroin as well as deadly weapons and other drugs during a series of raids in Scotland. Dunstance was freed early from HMP Shotts in August 2022 - almost four years before his sentence was due to expire. From once living the high-life from dirty riches in Benalmadena, the 49 year-old then moved into a rented two-bedroom flat in Lochgilphead, Argyle and Bute after being released. But, rather then keep out of trouble, Dunstance again attracted the attention of the police. Last September 10, a shipment of 54kg of "white powder" was intercepted by Home Office officials at London's Heathrow Airport. It had been sent from China and marked for Dunstance, but at the next door address to where he lived. Prosecutor Neil McCulloch told the High Court in Glasgow how the powder - found to be form of paracetamol - could be mixed with caffeine. It would make a substance known as "bash" which could then be used to help bulk out drugs to maximise profits for dealers. Mr McCulloch said if it were used to mix with heroin there was a "potential value" of raking in more than £750,000. Police focused on Dunstance and he was stopped outside his home last October. The advocate depute: "The property was searched - there were some items recovered associated with the adulteration of controlled drugs. "These included clear bags, a blender and scales." Police also seized a number of hand-written notes with references to certain countries where narcotics were considered "legal highs". Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. There were further comments about "commercial drones" as well as "various contacts" listed some believed to be based in England. Dunstance made no comment when quizzed by officers. It led to Dunstance landing in the dock again. He pleaded guilty to a charge of being involved in serious organised crime. His lawyer told the hearing that the former gang boss - previously said to have profited by more than £1m from drug trafficking - had been "financially struggling" at the time. John Scullion, defending, said the boxes of white powder had been detected by the authorities "almost immediately". It had been a plan by Dunstance "destined to failure". The KC added: "The circumstances are redolent of a desperate attempt, at a lower level, to make money, which spectacularly backfired. He now bitterly regrets further involvement in criminality." Lord Matthews jailed Dunstance for three years and four months cutting the term from five years due to his guilty. He must, however, first serve six months of the sentence he was previously freed from. Dunstance gave a beaming smile and a thumbs up to a woman in court as he returned back to the cells. The case in 2015 heard how Dunstance's mob had been in the "top 5%" of crime gangs in the country at that time. He was snared as part of the large scale Operation Brora police probe. Detectives had managed to hack into messages which showed how Dunstance was directing crew members from his home in Spain. He was later extradited from the Netherlands to face justice. David Hawthorne - one of his trusted lieutenants - was separately jailed for nine years in 2014 for his role in the gang. He manned safe houses for drugs and firearms in Drumchapel, Glasgow. Dunstance was also an associate of Euan "EJ" Johnston, gunned down in a gangland killing in the city in 2016.
