Glasgow drug king-pins caught in huge multi-million pound bust sentenced

23/10/2023

Two dealers [1] caught during multi-million pound drug busts were jailed today for a total of nine-and-a-half years. Christopher Tiffoney, 35, and James Jamieson, 33, were snared after encrypted messages helped link them to huge hauls of narcotics. Police seized more than GBP5m of cocaine and heroin as well in excess of GBP500,000 of dirty money.

Prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel told the High Court [2] in Glasgow: “These values only provide a small snapshot of a wider operation involving Tiffoney and Jamieson dealing in drugs worth millions of pounds.” The duo pleaded guilty to a charge of being involved in serious organised crime between March and May 2020. Judge Lord Scott sentenced both men to four years and nine months each.

He said: “You knowingly took part for two months in a significant organised criminal operation involving millions of pounds in drugs. “You were both remarkably frank on your reports about how you became involved in serious organised crime. You accept being involved for financial gain or greed which is more frequently true and I give credit for that.

“What you pled guilty to was extremely serious and I have to recognise there could be more serious examples of this charge with years rather than months and people higher up the chain.” A three-year serious crime prevention order known as a ‘super-asbo’ was also applied on both men. Tiffoney and Jamieson were caught following three separate police probes.

Issued by Police Scotland of cash seized in Operation Venetic, an investigation on Encrochat, a military-grade encrypted communication system used by organised criminals trading in drugs and guns. (Image: Police Scotland)

This included Operation Venetic, which, in 2020, saw the French and Dutch law authorities smash the EncroChat messaging service favoured by criminals.

Tiffoney used handles such as ‘TINTHEPARK’ to help carry out the lucrative drug trafficking. Miss Dalziel: “These communications show his significant involvement in serious organised crime in Glasgow and beyond.” Jamieson was also known to use an encrypted device.

Operation Stickup initially resulted in associate Darren “Big Popa’ Collin being caught after his van and a flat in the city’s Anniesland was searched in April 2020. Police seized GBP1.3m of heroin and cocaine as well as GBP517,675 in cash. Join Glasgow Live’s Whatsapp Community here [5] and get the latest news sent straight to your messages

In the weeks before, Collin and Jamieson were in touch via EncroChat discussing drugs and how he should behave if caught by police. Jamieson messaged him at one stage: “Much paper I done in tops (cocaine) this week.” The reply was: “1,014,000”.

Tiffoney meantime arranged for Collin to transport GBP659,000 in cash to Manchester. The court heard it was Jamieson that Collin texted seconds after being stopped in Anniesland stating: “Been caught”. Tiffoney and Jamieson were later seen circling the area in a vehicle with police at the scene.

Miss Dalziel: “On April 30 2020, Tiffoney discussed Collin’s arrest with others mentioning the recoveries of drugs, money and phones. He was advised to go to a lawyer.” Tiffoney also said Jamieson – nicknamed ‘Suitcase’ – would be “implicated”.

He stated: “Suitcase is f****d. The van was in his name. Surely they go for him also.”

Tiffoney also claimed Jamieson’s “prints” would be on some of the drug haul. It emerged DNA and fingerprints linked both to the flat. Collin was later jailed for eight years in August 2020 after he pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine.

Operation Brumlow meantime saw Christopher Tinsley earlier stopped on the M74 near Lesmahagow in Lanarkshire in April of that year. Police recovered cocaine with a potential street value of GBP4m from a van he was in. EncroChat messages revealed Tiffoney’s involvement in the crime and that he had been expecting to receive 20kg of the consignment.

He was said to have become “worried” when courier Tinsley had not been in touch. Tinsley was jailed for five years and four months for his part in the trafficking in May 2021. Brian McConnachie KC, defending Tiffoney, told the sentencing that his client’s involvement was for financial gain.

He stated that his client earned in the region of GBP60,000 for his involvement.

Iain McSporran KC, defending Jamieson, said: “He went into this enterprise and he has been caught and he must suffer the consequences for what seemed to be easy money – custody must follow.”

References

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