Achi news desk-
Between March and December 2020, the gang used a “highly secure” building on the Larkfield housing estate in Greenock, Inverclyde, to control the sale and supply of cocaine, heroin, cannabis and etisolam.
Prosecutors said the gang had caused “chaos and unrest” in the local community.
The gang were caught when French authorities intercepted encrypted messages on the EncroChat platform, and each pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow in January.
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The court heard that one message referred to Valium tablets with a street value of more than £700,000.
A police raid in December 2020 led to the seizure of £150,000 worth of drugs, as well as £12,775 in cash, at the Oxford Road property referred to as “the trap”, or “the shop”, the court was told .
Docherty, who was described in court as the main member of the gang, was jailed for eight years when the gang was sentenced on Thursday.
Millar and Daniel Gillan received sentences of six years, and Brendan Gillan was jailed for six years and four months.
McKellar, who was responsible for moving the drugs, was sentenced to five years and four months.
Docherty, Millar and Brendan Gillan were also served with Serious Crime Prevention Orders, and all members of the gang will face proceeds of crime confiscation hearings in the future.
Sineidin Corrins, deputy procurator fiscal for specialist casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “For years, the criminal activities of these individuals have affected the everyday lives of many ordinary people in the Larkfield area of ​​Greenock through their involvement significantly with serious organized crime.
“They caused widespread chaos and disorder through the supply of drugs and their influence on young people.
“This extended to all aspects of the community, from local people living in the area to those who ran shops or businesses.
“But now, thanks to the efforts of officers and prosecutors, their grip on the local community has been dismantled.
“Members of this community can now move forward safe in the knowledge that these five individuals will spend a long time in prison after being brought to justice for these crimes.
“There are consequences for this type of criminality. We hope that these convictions and sentence will send a strong message to others involved in this type of criminal behavior and demonstrate the ability of the police and prosecutors to investigate, prepare and prosecute serious and organized crime from the this nature.
“We continue to target those who threaten communities across Scotland, working as a key part of the Serious Organized Crime Task Force to protect the people of Scotland.”
Detective Chief Inspector Robert Bowie, senior investigating officer, said: “These five men were a blight on the community of Greenock and the wider Inverclyde area.
“Their organized crime group was a significant factor in the illegal drug trade in the area, causing nothing but harm to secure their own gain.
“Their activities were brought to light thanks to a long and complex investigation led by the Serious and Organized Crime Team working in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.
The full extent of their criminality was revealed thanks to the infiltration of the encrypted messaging service Encrochat.
“Our officers, working with partners, worked tirelessly to uncover the criminal activity of this group, ultimately leading to justice being brought to justice.”
