A MAJOR player in an organised crime gang and his sidekick were today jailed for their part in a “sophisticated drugs network” peddling Etizolam worth more than £400,000.

Gary Jamieson, who is the brother of Glasgow drug lord Stephen Jamieson, was caged for four years and six months.

His co-accused John Mack was sentenced to four years in prison.

Both accused appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.

The prison authorities refused to have both men in the same room at the prison for a video link because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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As a result both had to be driven from the prison and appeared in the dock sitting next to two GeoAmey guards.

Today at the High Court in Glasgow judge Lord Mulholland told the pair: “You both pled guilty to supplying Etizolam in industrial quantities.

“Etizolam is a focus for concern from law enforcement agencies given its widespread use, particularly in the West of Scotland, and its links to recent drug-related deaths. You have contributed to this problem.”

Lord Mulholland also imposed a serious crime prevention order on the pair.

As they were led away to the cells neither man showed any emotion.

The pair were snared during an undercover surveillance operation peddling hundreds of thousands of Etizolam tablets.

Dad-of-five Jamieson, 34, from Pollok, Glasgow, admitted supplying the drug between February 27 and December 23, 2019.

Co-accused dad-of-three Mack, 33, of Whitehaugh Road, Glasgow, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply on the drug between April 11 and December 23, last year.

The offences were aggravated by a connection to serious organised crime.

Prosecutor Liam Ewing said: “This offence reflects Jamieson's command of a branch within an organised crime group.

“He was responsible for the supply of Etizolam using a network of distributors and dealers, to secure the availability of the tablets to street-deal dealers across Greater Glasgow.

“His co-accused John Mack is understood to work for Jamieson as his assistant.

“Etizolam is a focus for concern across the law enforcement and medical agencies given its widespread availability and use particularly in the West coast of Scotland and its specific link to recent drug related deaths.”

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The court was told that both accused used others further down the food chain to get the drug to street dealers.

Jamieson was the target of a surveillance operation, codenamed Operation Blanc, between February and December 2019.

The court heard on n February 27, 2019 Jamieson sent a text message to Kyle Hammond asking if he 'would take 30 to Larkhall.”

The following day Hammond was caught red-handed with 30,000 Etizolam tablets in a carrier bag. A further 40,000 were found in his flat. He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Etizolam in September 2019 and is currently serving a 16-month sentence.

On April 11, last year both Jamieson and Mack drove to an address in Paisley. Mack delivered 16,000 tablets, while Jamieson waited in the car.

Mack was arrested on September 19, last year, with an carrier bag containing Etizolam tablets. A search of his house revealed significant quantities of the tablets. During a police interview Mack accepted responsibility for approximately 500,000 tablets. He was then given bail.

On December 23, last year, Mack arrived at Jamison's house in Brock Oval carrying three large cardboard boxes and a carried bag.

Police officers seized the boxes and the bag and found approximately 250,000 Etizolam tablets.

Mr Ewing added: “Approximately 836,000 of tablets were recovered in the course of the police operation. If sold individually at 50 pence each, this quantity has a potential street value of approximately £418,000.”

Jamieson was convicted of a drugs offence in May 2008 at sheriff and jury level and given 12-months probation.

Mack has four previous conviction dating back to 2004 for non-analagous offences.

Defence QC Brian McConnachie, representing Jamieson, said his client had three children from his present relationship and another two from a previous one.

Mr McConnachie added: “When he stopped working in 2018 he became involved with alcohol and controlled drugs and had a signification cocaine habit.”

Advocate Louise Arrol said: “My client had a cocaine habit and was consuming three to four grams daily. He committed these offences to fund his addiction.”