Addict told police drug stash found in flat was chocolate

A HEROIN addict caught with 57 bags of the drug during a raid on his home tried to tell police officers that he was dealing in chocolate.

Officers received a tip-off that Kevin McHugh, 35, was supplying heroin from his flat in Dalkeith last October.

When officers swooped on the home in Willow Road and found almost 600 of illegal substances, McHugh told them: "That's my chocolate."

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, McHugh pleaded guilty to charges of possession and supply of the Class A drug.

Police chiefs today welcomed his conviction and appealed to members of the public for more tip-offs about dealers as part of an ongoing crackdown on drug peddlers in Midlothian.

Operation Erase has seen dealers in the county targeted in a string of raids aimed to stamp out the supply of illegal drugs in the area, as well as trying to direct both sellers and users into treatment programmes.

Described as a heavy drug user, McHugh claimed 40 of the "tenner" bags were for his personal use.

He admitted he planned to sell the remaining 17 to other known heroin users in his circle of friends.

His defence lawyer, Graham Horsman, told Sheriff Alastair Noble that his client had no intention of selling to anyone outwith his group of acquaintances and that no new users would have been dealt the heroin.

Mr Horsman also stated that McHugh was keen to get help to get off the drugs.

He said: "Mr McHugh still has a significant drug problem. He is going to struggle to beat the problem without any support."

Sheriff Noble told McHugh to come back to court in August for a drug treatment review.

A police spokeswoman said: "Lothian and Borders Police are committed to tackling the scourge of drugs, but this is only successful through community engagement and information sharing.

"We are cracking down on offenders in Midlothian. Since May, Operation Erase has struck a serious blow against serious and organised crime, as part of an ongoing drive to target those whose activities are a blight on local communities.

"If we are to continue to build on these successes, it is vital have the support of the public and we would encourage anyone with any concerns about drug-dealing in their community to report it to police. Any information will be acted up and treated in the strictest of confidence."

Anyone with any information on drug dealing is asked to contact police on 0131-311 3131, or 0800-555 111.