Trial told of drug deals as police looked on

AN alleged drugs dealer who is accused of running a network of couriers to supply cocaine across the Lothians was targeted by a massive police surveillance operation, a trial has heard.

• The High Court in Edinburgh

James Purves was tracked by a team of undercover officers who caught him carrying out alleged drug deals at the retail parks at Fort Kinnaird and Straiton.

Officers also followed a woman, who they believed was a courier for 28-year-old Purves, from the Capital to Liverpool, where she picked up four kilos of cocaine worth around 200,000.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard yesterday that police pulled over Wendy Young in a vehicle on the A702 in Midlothian as she returned from Merseyside with the drugs.

Prosecutors allege that Purves, of Bethlehem Way, Lochend, was in control of a gang of couriers and dealers, which included Young.

The court heard that Purves was put under surveillance as part of Operation Larva, with officers given permission to monitor their suspect with "cameras, videos, night-sights, and automated number plate recognition (ANPR)" technology, which can track vehicles.

Purves is alleged to have used a fleet of vehicles to control his drug empire, with police observing him regularly changing between a BMW 320, a Ford Connect van and a Renault van.

His mobile phone was also monitored while officers used CCTV cameras across the city to follow his movements.

The court also heard that officers followed up on alleged purchases made by Purves, including a 720 leather sofa from a DFS store and televisions from Currys, in a bid to identify where his alleged drug profits were being spent.

Giving evidence yesterday, the detective sergeant in charge of the surveillance said officers began following Purves on September 25, 2007. He told the court: "We were looking for evidence of drug supply and trying to identify his criminal associates."

Officers followed Wendy Young and another man to Liverpool on October 19, 2007, from where she returned with a bag which police suspected contained drugs, but they decided not to make an arrest.

Weeks later, on December 5, when she made another trip to the English city to meet a drug dealer for a pick-up, officers pounced on her return journey.

The court also heard evidence yesterday from Michael Anderson, 34, who had previously worked as an assistant sales manager at the DFS furniture store in Newcraighall.

He confirmed to the court that he sold a 720 sofa to a "James Purves".

Purves denies the offences.

The trial continues.