Tanning salon boss jailed over £50,000 cocaine haul

THE boss of a tanning salon has been jailed for 40 months after he was caught with a kilo of cocaine worth up to £50,000 on the streets because of an alert off-duty detective.

The Lothian and Borders Police officer was driving west on the M8 in September last year when he saw Colin Smith at the wheel of a black BMW car.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the off-duty detective was aware of "certain intelligence" concerning Smith, 39, and saw him turn off at the Harthill service station where he parked up at a secluded spot.

The officer saw him approach another vehicle before he returned to his car carrying an item under his arm. Traffic police were alerted and Smith was stopped at Newbridge, outside Edinburgh, as he returned eastwards.

A bag containing two blocks of cocaine was on clear view on the front passenger seat. Smith was also found to have envelopes containing about 2,500.

Smith claimed the cash was takings from his Coco Beach tanning salon in Penicuik.

Smith, of Grant Road, Prestonpans, earlier admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug cocaine on 24 September last year.