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Scottish man part of Island £200,000 cocaine smuggling deal

Two kilos of drugs hidden in car

A Scottish man will be sentenced at the end of this month for his part in a £200,000 cocaine smuggling operation.

Fifty-seven-year-old Russell Armit Nelson Collins, of Kelloholm in Sanquhar, admitted producing two kilogrammes of the class A drug and possessing it with intent to supply.

 

The hearing before magistrates at Douglas courthouse was told Collins arrived on the Island just before 10pm on 22 May, but his VW Passat was stopped by police at the Sea Terminal.

 

They asked him why he was on the Island - he claimed he was visiting an online girlfriend, but couldn’t give officers any information about her.

 

His car was searched, and police discovered a hidden compartment containing two individually packed kilograms of heroin.

 

During police interview, Collins claimed he’d been paid £500 to pick up the car in Liverpool and drop it off on the Isle of Man.

 

And he also denied knowing the vehicle was carrying drugs.

 

Collins was remanded in custody by magistrates, who said their sentencing powers were insufficient to deal with him.

 

He’ll appear for sentencing at the Court of General Gaol Delivery on 30 September.

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