A CLYDEBANK gas engineer caught red handed by police collecting a £2.4m million drug haul has been jailed for four years.

Allan Ferguson, 25, was tailed under surveillance picking up 20kg of cocaine in Paisley on August 18 last year.

A raid on his parents' address recovered more cocaine, as well as a taser from a locked safe.

Self-employed Ferguson later claimed he took the decision to “earn money” from “career criminals” due to lack of income while in lockdown.

Ferguson pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

The offence was aggravated by a connection to organised crime.

Ferguson also admitted possession of a stun gun without authority. 

Judge Lord Sandison said he did not accept the claim Ferguson made to social workers that he didn't think the crime had any "particular victims".

He said: "You have heard of the numerous tragic deaths in this country due to controlled drugs.

"There are various people involved in criminality due to controlled drugs.

"You allowed yourself to be used by others who will take the reward and leaving you with all the risk.

"This is a risk which will leave you with a substantial period in prison.

"It's wrong to say there are no victims, as there are - including you."

The court heard police received intelligence about a Ford Transit van in Paisley with a quantity of drugs on board.

Prosecutor Steven Borthwick said: “On the date in question he was put under police surveillance.”

Ferguson was seen collecting a phone before making a call from the van.

A Volkswagen Golf entered then entered the car park and parked near Ferguson.

Mr Borthwick said: “Both men exited their vehicles and Ferguson opened the shutter doors of the van.

“Ferguson received an orange plastic bag and a green bag.

“He put both bags in the van and the driver of the Golf drove off.”

Officers stopped Ferguson who was taken to a police station for a search.

A total of 18 blocks of white powder and three mobile phones were found in the car. 

Ferguson’s parents' house in Clydebank was raided later that day.

A total of two blocks of white powder, a black taser, as well as £2,950 in mixed notes were recovered from a safe in his bedroom.

A test of four blocks recovered found the white powder to be cocaine with up to 54% purity.

Mr Borthwick said: “The 20 kilos recovered in total, if sold in one gram deals, have the potential street value of between £2 million and £2.4 million.”

The taser was found to be in working order and produced “visible and audible sparks” when operated.

Tony Lenehan, defending, told the court that Ferguson was unaware of the value of the lump sum of the drugs.

He added: "He found himself in strange circumstances last year.

"Mr Ferguson doesn't pretend that he was misled to think that it was something other than what it was.

"He accepts he will pay the price for the reality."