John Smith, 33, was stopped in a taxi in the city and drugs, weighing just over two kilos, were found.

John Smith, 33, was stopped in a taxi in the city and drugs, weighing just over two kilos, were found. He claimed he had stolen a rucksack from two men who had asked him for directions in a pub and said he did not know what was inside. However, drugs officers had witnessed him hand over money in return for the bag of cocaine.
Advocate depute Morag Jack told the High Court in Edinburgh that Smith had been put under surveillance during a drugs operation. She said that on 6 December last year he was seen meeting two men who had got off a coach at the bus station. All three went into The Abode pub in the city's St Andrews Street. The prosecutor said: "The accused was seen to hand over a bundle of cash to one of the other men. In return he received a rucksack." Smith got into a taxi but the vehicle was stopped by police and he was detained. Inside the rucksack, police found two blocks of compressed powder wrapped in black tape. Analysis revealed it was 25% pure cocaine with a potential street value of £107,560. Smith earlier admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug. Lord Kinclaven told him he would have jailed him for five years for the offence, but for his guilty plea. The judge said: "As a courier you were playing an essential part in the drug trade."

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