Two men jailed for drugs offences after major police raids in Ayrshire

A drugs trafficker snared in a large scale police operation in Ayrshire will spend nine years behind bars.

47-year-old Shaun Donnelly was the main target for Operation Melisma, which saw £1.5m worth of cocaine and heroin seized in raids on properties in Prestwick, Ardrossan and Saltcoats in 2021.

Donnelly's co-accused, 38-year-old Andrew Moore, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Prosecutor Scott McKenzie told how the first search occurred in Prestwick on September 3 2021.

Man and woman told police they were "holding" drugs for Donnelly

A man called Paul Elvin was there and claimed he was "holding" drugs for someone, but refused to say who.

A total of £5,600 of cocaine was found there. Elvin was later jailed for 12 months for his involvement.

On December 9 2021, officers swooped at the home of Josephine McKenzie in Ardrossan.

Mr McKenzie: "She openly admitted that her family members within had nothing to do with what was recovered.

"She told the officers where to find the drugs in the property."

McKenzie later stated "a family friend named Shaun" had paid her £200 for hiding the narcotics at her home.

A total of £863,750 of heroin and £563,500 of cocaine was discovered along with a substance used to bulk out drugs to maximise profits.

McKenzie - who had a gambling debt at the time - was jailed for four years at the high court in 2023.

Donnelly and Moore were found at a house in Saltcoats

Police finally searched a property in Saltcoats where Moore lived in February 2022.

Moore was in the living room, Donnelly was also there along with another man.

Donnelly confessed: "You know there is stuff here. You seen it in the kitchen. Everything is in the kitchen."

Around £59,000 of cocaine was seized this time.

The court heard police went on to find a series of messages that linked Donnelly to passing orders to others relating drug trafficking.

Donnelly and Moore were also in discussion about payments.

Both men had been due to stand trial.

Both men given shorter sentences after guilty pleas

But, Donnelly instead pleaded guilty to a charge of directing others in serious organised crime between August 2021 and February 2022.

Moore admitted to being concerned in the supply of cocaine in connection with drugs found at his home.

Judge Douglas Brown said Donnelly would have been jailed for 10 years, but for his guilty plea. Moore's term was cut from three years.

Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.