A CRIME gang member is behind bars after police seized £1.6 million of cocaine.

John Gurie was held in April 2020 after raids on his home, van and lock up garage in East Kilbride.

Detectives had kept tabs on the 38-year-old during the probe into an underworld mob.

Officers found drugs had been hidden in a secret compartment in the Citroen Berlingo van.

Gurie had also been in contact with associates using an encrypted mobile phone.

He today pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

The plasterer had been on bail, but was remanded by judge Lady Stacey pending sentencing next month.

Prosecutor Angela Gray said Gurie had been monitored as part of the investigation into a West of Scotland crime gang.

He was detained on April 21, 2020 near his home in East Kilbride.

Police initially searched the property and found 3kg of cocaine in a cupboard.

The van was found parked outside the lock up near Gurie's home.

Ms Gray said: "The vehicle was found to have been adapted. It had a complex hydraulic hide which opened with a key fob.

"This sort of concealed compartment is typically used by organised crime groups for transporting controlled drugs."

Police discovered a further 11kg of cocaine stashed there.

A hydraulic press - used to package drugs - was found in the lock up.

Ms Gray said the cocaine had a purity of up to 82% and a potential value of between £1.4m and £1.6m.

Data was recovered on the encrypted phone linking it to Gurie.

This included photos of illegal consignments, discussion on how to operate the 'hide' in the van and moving the drugs.

The advocate depute said: "Gurie was part of an organised crime group - that is accepted."

Gurie, still of East Kilbride, had also faced allegations of conspiring with others to assault an unknown person as well as possession of the drug Etizolam.

Prosecutors accepted not guilty pleas to those accusations.

Billy Lavelle, defending, told the court: "He accepts there is an inevitably in terms of the sentence here."

Lady Stacey adjourned the case for reports.

She told Gurie: "I have been asked to continue bail, but I am not going to do so."