A FIRE at a fish and chip shop led police officers to discover a £250,000 drugs haul in the flat above it.
Adriano's in Clydebank was ablaze on July 9, 2023.
Stephen Tosh, 38, was later found to have been using the adjoining property to mix and package cocaine and heroin.
Tosh - who was a 'factory worker' for an organised crime group - claimed he was repaying a debt owed by a dead relative.
Police also found a selfie photo of him inside the flat further linking him to the trafficking.
Tosh pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to two charges of being concerned in the supply of the drugs between May 2020 and July 2023.
The court heard that the fire at Adriano's was accidentally caused by a chip pan.
The property above it had its entry forced by firefighters due to safety concerns. Police were also called to the flat, which was empty.
Prosecutor Imran Bashir said: "Officers saw several large bags containing numerous wraps of brown and white powder.
"There was drugs paraphernalia including scales and mixing bowls.
"Powder was also seen on the surfaces."
A search warrant was obtained and a deeper investigation into the property was carried out.
Tosh's DNA was found on items in the flat as well on bags which contained drugs.
A neighbour told officers that he noticed Tosh regularly attended the property.
It was stated that Tosh, of Chapelhall, Lanarkshire, was not the owner of the flat.
Mr Bashir said: "The total street value of diamorphine recovered was £130,000. The cocaine had a potential value of £120,000."
A further £3,075 of a substance used to bulk out drugs to maximise profits was also found.
Tosh's home was searched and a total of £1,535 in cash was recovered as well as his mobile phone.
The device contained images of the flat above Adriano's between December 2021 and May 2023. A selfie of Tosh in the flat was also recovered.
HMRC records showed Tosh had no annual income between 2020 and 2021.
However, Mr Bashir recalled that there was a £25,675 cash deposit into his bank account between 2020 and 2023.
There were further cash deposits of £17,383 and £21,899 into a separate bank account.
The advocate depute added: "Tosh's role in the organised crime group was as a factory worker involved in the adulteration and packaging of drugs."
Euan Dow, defending, told the court Tosh was a low-level drug dealer between May 2020 and December 2021.
The advocate stated that his brother-in-law Paul McDade was also involved but had taken his own life in September 2021.
Mr Dow added: "The money which his brother-in-law owed to those further up the supply chain was in essence transferred to Mr Tosh.
"From December 2021, he was involved in mixing and packaging drugs at the property in Clydebank.
"The money in his bank account related to wages from his work in 2021 which was largely cash in hand.
"He does accept from December 2021 receiving money for his role in the supply chain along with money to pay off his brother-in-law's drug debt."
Sentencing was deferred pending background reports until next month by Judge Lord Ericht at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Tosh was remanded in custody meantime.
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