Johnstone man caught trafficking drugs after food firm went bust

A man got involved in class A drug trafficking after his food business went bust.

Martin Hanlon was pulled over by police in his Vauxhall Insignia on the A702 near Biggar, Lanarkshire, on September 27, 2024.

Officers discovered multiple blocks of cocaine inside cardboard boxes in the boot of the car.

The haul – which had a purity of up to 77 per cent – had a potential value of £600,000.

The 37-year-old pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine when he appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.

His lawyer told how Hanlon, of Johnstone, Renfrewshire, had previously worked as a construction site manager.

Brian McConnachie KC, defending, said: “He got involved in a catering business – travelling around food festivals. This was a company which employed a chef and he did some of the catering himself.”

But the business ran into trouble and “collapsed owing money”. Hanlon had borrowed £12,000 from others to help set it up.

Mr McConnachie added: “After the business collapsed, he was in a position where there was no obvious means to repay. In order to contribute to the debt, he was effectively hired to carry out a driving job which was to deliver an ‘item’ down south. Unknown to him, the person he was delivering that item to was under surveillance.”

The other man was arrested, but Hanlon returned to Scotland.

Mr McConnachie went on: “These people had not had their money repaid and had now also lost a significant amount of cocaine. They advised Mr Hanlon that he was required to carry out another such job. This time he was caught.”

In connection with the first drug delivery, Hanlon was arrested in December 2024. He later pled guilty at Carlisle Crown Court and was jailed in June this year.

Lord Harrower deferred sentencing on this latest case until next month.