Man found with heroin worth 拢5.8m hidden in Glasgow flat

Image source, PA Media

Image caption, The court heard that McIntosh had enough heroin to supply 586,585 users

A 39-year-old unemployed man has admitted storing heroin with a street value of more than 拢5.8m in his home.

Police officers who raided Daniel McIntosh's one-bedroom flat in Maryhill, Glasgow, discovered 16 kilos (35lb) of the drug.

If divided down into "tenner bags", it would have the potential to supply 586,585 users - the equivalent of the population of Glasgow.

The heroin was found in a carrier bag and two holdalls.

At the High Court in Glasgow, McIntosh admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin at his flat on 5 September last year.

He said he was paid to store the heroin after running up a drugs debt.

'High purity'

Prosecutor Blair Speed said: "It is accepted that the accused was trusted with the safekeeping of a large quantity of controlled drugs for the onward distribution by others.

"The total potential street value of the heroin recovered in this case is approximately 拢5,865,850 if the drug were subdivided into 拢10 bag deals."

The court heard that police, armed with a warrant, began their search just after midnight.

A significant amount of the heroin found was of between 50% and 60% purity. Street heroin is normally about 13% pure.

Defence counsel Tony Lenehan said: "This is a man who worked solidly from leaving school. Prior to this event he had something of a downward spiral after losing his job for the first time ever.

"He ended up with a drug debt as he became a user. He stored these drugs to satisfy a drug debt."

McIntosh, a first offender, will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on 27 August.

Judge Lord Fairley granted him bail.