Five men admit being involved in serious organised crime
- Published
The five admitted being involved in serious organised crime when they appeared at the High Court in Glasgow
Five members of a crime gang are facing jail terms after a major drugs bust at a heavily-barricaded block of flats.
They were caught in 2020 following the raid in Greenock, Inverclyde.
Lee Docherty, 37, Ian Millar, 39, Brendan Gillan, 32, his father Daniel Gillan, 60, and Christopher McKellar, 44, had been due to stand trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Instead they pled guilty to a charge of being involved in serious organised crime between March and December 2020.
They were remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.
The men were arrested after police forces across Europe, led by French and Dutch forces, smashed the EncroChat encrypted phone network which the gang had used to organise drugs trafficking.
Prosecutor Alexander Sutherland said each member had a "handle" they were known as on the EncroChat network.
Docherty, the leader, used "renegadeball" or "goldenshark"; his brother-in-law Millar was known as "sarcasticflamingo", while the Gillans had the names "unrealegg" and "warmhail".
McKellar had the handle "mrrr-celtic". The name "mrr-goldentrapper" was used by different individuals linked to the gang.
Mr Sutherland explained: "They were members of an organised crime group (OCG) concerned in the sale and supply of cocaine, heroin, cannabis and etizolam.
"This was in the Inverclyde area, in particular the Larkfield estate in Greenock."
The advocate depute said a property in the town's Oxford Road was called "the shop" or "the trap" by the crime gang.
"It was the OCG's centre of operations," he said. "It was where customers attended to purchase controlled drugs.
"The property is heavily protected with heavy metal doors. The OCG had access to flats on the first and second floors of Oxford Road affording it a surrounding view.
"CCTV monitors were installed at 'the shop' allowing the OCG to monitor arrivals and police presence."
Leadership and advice
The court heard Docherty was the "principal member" with a "large network of associates".
Mr Sutherland: "He provided leadership and advice to members of the OCG. The others answered to him."
Millar was one of the "most trusted" recruits, Brendan Gillan was involved in the "day-to-day" running of the crime gang with his father giving "advice".
McKellar did not live in Greenock, but still played an important role in the drug trafficking.
Mr Sutherland said the EncroChat communications included discussions on the purchase of £700,000 of street Valium pills. Photos of drugs were also sent.
The gang was also concerned at times about increased police presence during the Covid lockdown.
The court heard Docherty sent McKellar a photo of a TV screen at "the shop".
Mr Sutherland said: "It showed marked police cars outside. Docherty stated: 'Them rats just sitting through nite'."
Various locations linked to the crew were raided on December 15 2020.
A total of around £150,000 of drugs were seized along with £12,775 in dirty money.
Lord Mulholland deferred sentencing for reports.