A CRIME gang involved in cocaine dealing, abduction, torture, gun offences and hiding “dirty money” deployed phone jamming equipment in a bid to foil the police.
David Sell, 50, Barry O’Neill, 37, Anthony Woods, 44, Francis Mulligan, 41, Michael Bowman, 30, Mark Richardson, 30, Gerard Docherty, 42, Steven McArdle, 33, and Martyn Fitzsimmons, 37, were yesterday described as the “most sophisticated” mob ever encountered by officers in Scotland.
As they appeared at the High Court in Glasgow, having earlier admitted a string of charges, it emerged they used a device that could jam mobile phone signals and encrypted their mobile phones to avoid eavesdropping by investigators.
READ MORE: Victim was tortured by gang over drug debt
Their stolen getaway vehicles included two 155mph £85,000 Audi RS6 cars, worth £85,000 each, and a £30,000 Volkswagen Golf. The vehicles were found burnt out.
A weapons haul linked to the gang was discovered in a secret compartment within the rear bumper of a Honda car in a lock-up in Anniesland, Glasgow, earlier this year. Inside were Glock and Beretta guns, sub-machine guns, a grenade and bullets.
However, they also used more traditional disguises, such as fake facial hair and wigs.
Posing as legitimate business people, they had applied for full business rate rebates on properties.
Alex Prentice QC, prosecuting, who took two hours to outline the list of offences, said: “It became apparent to police that the group were conscious of anti-surveillance and police activity and were employing covert and anti-surveillance tactics.”
The group werdealings in drugs, firearms, violence, dirty money and the abduction and torture of a man over an unpaid cocaine d The illicit activities included a shooting at the home of a gangland figure and a massive arsenal of weapons found hidden in a car.
Their stolen high-performance cars included a pair of £85,000 Audi RS6 vehicles and a £30,000 Volkswagen Golf, all used as getaway vehicles and later burnt out.
READ MORE: Victim was tortured by gang over drug debt
A haul of guns linked to the gang was hidden in a secret compartment within the rear bumper of a Honda car in a lock-up in Anniesland, Glasgow, earlier this year. They included Glocks, a Beretta, sub machine guns, a grenade and bullets.
Yesterday nine gang members, David Sell, 50, Barry O’Neill, 37, Anthony Woods, 44, Francis Mulligan, 41, Michael Bowman, 30, Mark Richardson, 30, Gerard Docherty, 42, Steven McArdle, 33, and Martyn Fitzsimmons, 37 had earlier pled guilty to various charges, at the High Court in Glasgow.
Mr Prentice said the criminals were caught after four investigations into serious and organised crime. Links began to emerge after a large consignment of firearms was found during one operation.
Mr Prentice: “The group is the most sophisticated encountered by Police Scotland. Their operation centres on the importation of vast quantities of cocaine.
“Their role is as wholesalers to other organised crime groups. They are at the top of the chain in terms of drugs transactions in Scotland and the UK as a whole.”
The court heard the crew were also involved in “firearm trafficking” to “violently enforce their own operation.”
The advocate depute: “The firepower at the disposal of this crime group is unprecedented ... in terms of the history of organised crime in Scotland.”
READ MORE: Victim was tortured by gang over drug debt
O’Neill, meanwhile, pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.
As part of the probes, Mr Prentice said police focused on premises and cars used by the mob, which were for the “concealing, packaging and transporting” of cocaine, cash and firearms.
Mr Prentice: “This was the capacity in which Michael Bowman worked for the group and in doing so facilitated their criminal activities. Anthony Woods and Francis Mulligan were both involved in these activities.”
The trio earlier admitted having roles in “serious organised crime”. Mulligan was described as the “electronics expert.”
Premises they used were raided, including a farm near Glasgow and a property in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire.
Mr Prentice: “It became apparent to police that the group were conscious of anti surveillance and police activity and were employing covert and anti surveillance tactics.”
A shooting at the home of Robert Kelbie in Ratho, Edinburgh, was also investigated in September 2016. The court heard gang member Gerard Docherty “discharged bullets from a firearm” into the cottage.
Kelbie was at home at the time with his ex-partner, two children, his mother and sister.
Mr Prentice: “He [Docherty] took up a vantage point in the neighbouring garden standing amongst foliage and behind a three foot high boundary wall.”
READ MORE: Victim was tortured by gang over drug debt
As Kelbie sat down, he heard “loud cracking sounds”.
Docherty was snared after DNA linked him to the scene. However, he denied any knowledge of it. McArdle, meanwhile, was caught with a Glock at a house in Wishaw in August 2016.
In January, Mark Richardson was held after a similar weapon was found in a car in Baillieston, Glasgow. Army war veteran turned gun-runner Martyn Fitzsimmons also had a Glock, ammunition and hid £36,000 of dirty money.
Judge Lord Beckett remanded all nine in custody and deferred sentencing until next month.
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