A LORRY driver from Linwood faces a long prison sentence after trying to smuggle millions of pounds worth of cocaine into Scotland.

David Murdoch, 56, and his accomplice Graham McCulloch, 39, were caught red-handed as they transported 59 kilos of the Class-A drug from England.

Yesterday, the High Court in Glasgow heard the massive haul had a maximum street value of almost £6million.

When a Mercedes van being driven by Murdoch as he ferried the drugs north of the border was searched, it was found to have a specially-created ‘hide’ in the rear which comprised of a concealed compartment operated by a hydraulic system.

Yesterday, both men admitted being concerned in the supply of the drug between October 11, 2019, and May 19 last year in London, Kent and Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire.

They also pled guilty to having hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash.
Murdoch was driving a van and McCulloch was at the wheel of a BMW car when police swooped on the A74 at Ecclefechan on May 19. 

Prosecutor Paul Kearney said: “The accused accept they each engaged in a course of conduct which involved the transporting and delivering of very large quantities of cocaine and the means of payment for the consignments.

“On the final two days of that period, one of these consignments of cocaine, weighing 59 kilos, plus £409,595 and 289,500 in Euros were recovered from the car and van being used by them.”

On May 12, as a result of a tip-off to the Metropolitan Police, a van driven by Murdoch and with McCulloch in the passenger seat was tailed in London and Surrey before it returned to Scotland.

Six days later, it was again under surveillance by officers from Police Scotland and then later the Met.

Murdoch drove to Kent and met up with Airdrie man McCulloch in a car park.
When the van was later searched, police found 43 blocks of cocaine.

As Murdoch was arrested and cautioned, he asked officers: “What’s the difference between supplying it and couriering it up?”

Defence counsel Tony Lenehan said: “Mr Murdoch is a professional lorry driver and the two of them were recruited to courier the drugs.”

Judge Lady Stacey remanded both men in custody and deferred sentence until February 4.