Exotic dancer and her drug gang face bid to claw back crime cash

A GANG targeting wealthy Scots is being pursued for the proceeds of drug-dealing by the Scottish Government after an exotic dancer was found with crack cocaine in her underwear.

Shadia Wright was with a gang of criminals when she was discovered with 25,000 worth of the drug concealed on her body.

Now Scottish ministers have lodged a Proceeds of Crime case against the gang to claw back the cash they were found with at the same time.

In the action lodged at Perth Sheriff Court, the government claims the Aberdeen area was being specifically targeted by "Yardie" drug gangs.

Wright, 24, from Leicester, and the three men she was with - Nathan Brooks, Simon Carter and Steven Taylor from Birmingham - are being chased for drug profits.

"The supply of controlled drugs into Aberdeen and its surrounding area has, over a number of years, been infiltrated by organised crime groups which are based in the West Midlands of England," the Scottish ministers state.

"These groups are dominated by individuals of Afro-Caribbean extraction. They have targeted Aberdeen and other parts of the Grampian Police force area, since these areas are perceived to be areas of affluence.

"They are further perceived to offer lucrative markets for the supply of high-value controlled drugs, such as diamorphine and cocaine. These individuals are members of an organised crime group based in the West Midlands. All were actively involved in the trafficking of controlled drugs into Aberdeen and elsewhere around Scotland."

The action states that the three men - who were stopped near Perth - had "no legitimate personal or business connection with any part of Scotland".

It states: "Their collective presence in Scotland on 23 November, 2008, was explained exclusively by their involvement in the trafficking and supply of controlled drugs."

When the suspicious Lexus car was pulled over, Wright was found with nine bags of cocaine with an estimated street value of 25,000 wrapped in her underwear.

Officers also found 1,390 in her handbag, 23 in her purse, 225 in the car's centre console and 20 in the front passenger footwell. The total of 1,658.88 is the sum being pursued by Scottish ministers.

"She had cannabis resin hidden in her bra," the action states. "She was then found to have a carrier bag concealed in her underpants. This bag contained nine small plastic bags. There was a dealer quantity of cocaine.

"She was asked if she was in possession of money and maintained she had 'about a grand'.She maintained that this money represented her savings."

On 2 July, 2009, Wright was convicted at Perth Sheriff Court of being concerned in the supply of the largest consignment of crack cocaine ever found in Tayside.

Tayside Police used vehicle recognition technology to identify the car as having links to a Midlands-based Yardie gang.

Solicitor John McLaughlin, defending, said: "She had been in an abusive relationship and … didn't want to get involved with these people. It turned out that she was left almost literally holding the baby. None of the other three were prosecuted because there was insufficient evidence against them."

Wright was put on probation for two years and ordered to carry out 240 hours' community service.

The Proceeds of Crime action has been given the initial go-ahead by Sheriff Michael Fletcher, and a hearing has been scheduled for this month.