DRUGS IN CABS GLASGOW MAN AVOIDS JAIL


AFTER £105,000 DRUG HAUL FOUND IN TAXI


A 23-year-old Glasgow man who used a taxi to transport £105,000 worth of drugs has escaped a prison sentence, instead receiving a supervision order. Isa Ali, of Pollok, was apprehended by police on April 20, 2021, in Glasgow’s Pollok area after officers detected a “strong smell” emanating from the taxi’s boot. Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that Ali pleaded guilty


to being


concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, as well as a charge of dangerous driving from a


separate incident. Prosecutor Danielle McGuinness explained that officers operating a Glasgow City Council CCTV van first noticed the pungent odour. “Officers could smell a strong smell of cannabis from the vehicle in front of them,” she stated. “Other officers were alerted and stopped the taxi driver - Ali was the passenger in the vehicle.” Further investigation revealed that the taxi driver had picked up Ali from his residence and trans- ported him to various locations,


during which items were placed in the vehicle’s boot. A subsequent search uncovered 177 grams of cocaine, valued at £5,000, and 14 kilos of cannabis, worth £100,000, concealed within bags in the boot. Sheriff Andrew McIntyre sen- tenced Ali to 150 hours of unpaid work and placed him under supervision for two years. He was also fitted with an electronic tag, enforcing an 8pm to 7am curfew for one year, and disqualified from driving for 21 months.


NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL DENIES TAXI LICENCE TO DRIVER 16 TIMES OVER DRUG LIMIT


James Moore’s bid for a taxi driver’s licence was rejected by North Ayrshire Council’s licensing com- mittee due to a prior conviction for driving under the influence of drugs at an alarmingly high level. The decision, made on 5 March, stemmed from a police back- ground check revealing Moore’s history of road traffic offences. The committee was informed that Moore had been disqualified from


driving for two years and fined £400 at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in February 2022. This followed an incident on 5 April 2021 where Moore had 800mcg/litre of benzoylecgonine in his blood, a metabolite of cocaine, far exceed- ing the legal limit of 50mcg/litre. He was also convicted of driving with 55mcg/litre of cocaine in his blood, surpassing the 10mcg/litre limit.


MIDDLESBROUGH TAXI STOP LEADS TO DRUG ARRESTS


Two men are facing potential drug charges after Cleveland Police's Proactive Team halted a taxi in Middlesbrough on Tuesday evening, 18 March. Officers, acting on "suspicious activity," stopped the vehicle


52


around 7pm and arrested an 18- year-old and a 32-year-old on suspicion of being involved in the supply of class A drugs. Both individuals have


been


released on bail while police continue their investigation.


Police Scotland representatives objected to Moore’s application, deeming him not “a fit and proper person” to hold a taxi driver’s licence. They also pointed out that his sentencing date meant he was disqualified from driving when he applied, and had not been driving for the required year prior to the application. Cllr Christina Larsen moved to reject the application, high- lighting the severity of Moore’s offences. “We have to consider the level you were over the limit in each case,” she said. “Holding a taxi driver’s licence in North Ayrshire is a privilege and we have high expectations of our taxi drivers.” The committee unanimously agreed with Cllr Larsen’s, denying Moore’s application on the grounds that he was not a “fit and proper person” due to his past convictions.


MAY 2025 PHTM


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