A MAN is facing a lengthy jail sentence after pleading guilty to importing more than 8,000 ecstasy tablets that were hidden in pet food.
Toby Bishop, 21, was remanded in custody when he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
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Cops from the Nation Crime Agency raided his home last August after the packages were intercepted by the UK Border Force at a depot in Coventry.
Bishop’s parents were also arrested and charged in connection with the offence but charges were dropped following their son’s guilty plea.
At the time of the raid on their home his father was a forensic officer for the Scottish Police Authority working in Dundee.
We told last year how Robert Bishop, 59, was suspended from his job following his arrest.
Yesterday Advocate Depute, David Dickson, told Lord Braid that a total of 8,443 tablets with a street value of £84,430 were recovered along with £11,250 worth of cannabis.
He said: “On July 7 2022 a UK Border Force officer was asked to check a package at a depot in Coventry.
“On inspection, the parcel which was sent from Germany, was declared as being cat food. However when this was examined it was found the package contained a quantity of blue and green triangular tablets.
“In total 8,443 tables were recovered with a value of £84,430.”
Messages found on the Telegram messaging app on his phone showed Bishop was advertising drugs for sale and had a set price list for things.
During the raid at the family home in Glenogil near Forfar, Angus Bishop had to be cuffed by officers after he started acting erratically.
After officers found a small quantity of cannabis in his room he told them there was “more in the garage, I’ve been growing it.”
Officers then found a quantity of cannabis plants with a street value of £11,250.
Bishop’s defence Solicitor Advocate, Kris Gilmartin, told the court that his client was only being paid to pass the tablets on.
He said: “Mr Bishop was involved in using drugs at a low level.
“By doing this he became involved with others in the drugs fraternity.
“He was being paid £100 to get them delivered to him and then he was passing them on.”
Lord Braid remanded the first offender in custody and called for background reports.
He said: “A custodial sentence is inevitable.”
