Five men have been jailed after a police investigation exposed a cocaine distribution operation and an extensive cash laundering network in Glasgow, during which officers recovered both large sums of cash and kilogram‑scale quantities of Class A drugs.
Sentencing after sustained criminality
Crown court proceedings heard that the defendants admitted involvement in serious organised crime offences carried out in 2023 and 2024. All five — Ian McIntyre, 31; Kieran Doherty, 30; Calum McKelvie, 30; Jack Sanderson, 34; and Martin Tracey, 31 — were given identical terms by the judge, who said the offending was driven by financial gain.
"You were all plainly involved in this for the money for financial gain," the judge told the defendants.
The judge described the trafficking as "substantial" and taking place over a sustained period, noting that the scale of cash and drug recoveries ran into the millions and that the offending was not without victims.
Investigators uncover drugs lab and multiple cash handovers
Detectives discovered a makeshift drugs laboratory within a bedroom of a flat in Lambhill, in the north of Glasgow. In addition to drug processing, the inquiry uncovered a succession of large cash transactions, which formed part of the money‑laundering activity connected to the supply operation.
Prosecutors outlined a number of significant cash movements during the probe. Among those cited in court were handovers during May and June 2023 and a motorway stop in March 2024 that yielded a six‑figure sum.
| Date / Period | Item seized | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Early May/June 2023 | Cash handovers | £100,000; £67,020; £51,110 |
| 8 March 2024 | Cash found in silver Vauxhall Corsa (stopped on M74) | £199,530 |
| September 2023 | Packages of cocaine (seized after vehicle stop) | 15 blocks, potential value £1.5m |
| Undated | Cash found in boot of car (near Longforgan); cash at Glasgow flat; cash at hotel | £207,270; £101,000; £51,000 |
Proceeds and methods under scrutiny
Court evidence included accounts of individuals transporting large sums and being instructed to deliver cash to third parties. In one recorded instance, a suspect was intercepted with nearly £200,000 while allegedly en route to a phone shop in Manchester after being promised a fee of less than £1,000 for the delivery.
Officers also reported finding cocaine packages marked with a handwritten smiling face and the letter 'M', details used by investigators to link quantities recovered in different locations.
Consequences and wider investigation
Sentencing followed a major police operation that included multiple arrests and searches across the region. The judge said he would not differentiate between the defendants when imposing the sentences, indicating a collective level of culpability for running the enterprise.
- Five men convicted of organised crime offences relating to drug supply and money laundering.
- Recovered items included large quantities of cash and kilogram‑scale amounts of cocaine.
- Police discovered a drugs lab in a residential flat, reinforcing the seriousness of the operation.
The case underlines the scale of organised narcotics activity and the use of cash couriers and improvised premises for drug production. It also demonstrates law enforcement's capacity to track complex financial movements linked to supply networks and to secure convictions based on a combination of physical seizures and intercepted activity.
The sentences mark the latest result in continued efforts by police and prosecutors to disrupt organised drug networks operating in and beyond Scotland's largest city.
