A gangster lobbed '£90k of cocaine' out his car window while being chased by cops on the M8 motorway.

Martin Murphy has been caged for four years and four months after his involvement in drug deals worth hundreds of thousands of pounds was exposed.

The 45-year-old used three handles on the EncroChat communications platform favoured by serious and organised criminals.

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However, coppers uncovered dozens of messages and images from his phones that exposed the extent of his drug-trafficking activities following a search of his house. 

The gang member, who is from Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh after pleading guilty to drug offences between April and October 2021.

The court heard how Murphy used the three EncroChat handles - Analogpelican, Rocketforce and Reputableplug – to actively discuss the transportation, delivery, mixing, and distribution of controlled drugs with criminal associates. 

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) say between March 26 and October 2021, 40 images related to drug trafficking were recovered as well as a total of 1194 lines of conversation between the accused and other individuals using EncroChat handles.

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Meanwhile, during a search of the gangster's home in October 2021, a total of £153,650 and 7,680 euros were recovered wrapped in plastic bands as well as a small amount of cocaine. 

On top of that, one phone, which was sent for analysis, was found to have a 'notes' section which included entries saying '200k paid' and '150k paid'.

Officers assessed these as being references to monies owed and paid by Murphy.

(Image: COPFS) Additionally, other entries contained names with numbers beside them and were considered extensive 'tick lists' of drug monies owed to him.

A photos section on Murphy's phone also contained numerous images of large bundles of cash and blocks of cocaine.

The court also heard how in April 2020, police surveillance officers filmed the organised crime member receiving a package from another man in a supermarket car park at the Fort shopping centre in Glasgow's End End.

Cops later moved to nick Murphy who then drove away at a high speed and on the wrong side of the road narrowly avoiding other motors.

The criminal then discarded the package, believed to contain cocaine with a street value of £90,000, from his car window during the police chase on the M8.

He was later arrested following the search of his home.

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(Image: COPFS) Sineidin Corrins, Deputy Procurator Fiscal for specialist casework at the COPFS, said: “This was a highly successful prosecution which has removed a large quantity of drugs from our streets and caused significant disruption to the local supply chain.  

“Martin Murphy will now spend time in prison paying for his crimes thanks to an extensive police operation, working with COPFS, to investigate and disrupt a network of drug supply.  

“Drug trafficking wrecks lives and blights communities where drugs take hold.  

“The Crown will continue working with the police and other agencies as a member of Scotland’s Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce to ensure that these crimes are detected and those responsible prosecuted using all measures at our disposal.” 

The COPFS say Murphy will now be subject to confiscation action under Proceeds of Crime legislation to recover monies illegally obtained.