£25,000 heroin haul after drug handover that lasted less than a second

POLICE seized heroin worth £25,000 on the streets after watching a drug handover that lasted less than a second.

They were tipped off that a drugs transaction might take place involving Peter Mullen and another man.

Officers from a surveillance team, which was targeting Class A drug supply in Edinburgh in an operation codenamed Valance, watched as Mullen left flats at the city's Inchgarvie Court on February 10 last year.

Advocate depute Martin Macari told the High Court in Edinburgh that they followed him and could see he was talking on a mobile phone.

"The accused walked towards Crewe Road North and was seen to meet with another male and hand him an item," he said.

"The pair then walked away from each other. The meeting had lasted less than a second," said the prosecutor.

Police followed the other man and detained him and he told them: "I've got a nine bar on me, nothing else."

They recovered a polythene bag containing nearly a quarter kilo of heroin from the waistband of his trousers. Forensic analysis showed that Mullen's DNA was on the bag.

The drugs could be bought wholesale for about 5000 but if divided into tenner street deals could fetch pounds 25,000, the court heard.

Mullen, 40, was later interviewed but claimed to have little recollection of the circumstances.

The glazier, of Inchgarvie Court, Edinburgh, admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug on February 10, when he appeared in court today.

Defence solicitor advocate Richard Goddard said Mullen had stayed out of trouble for 13 or 14 years and built up a successful business.

The judge, Lord Kinclaven, deferred sentence on Mullen until next month for the preparation of a background report. He rejected a move to continue his bail after telling him he was now convicted of "a serious drugs offence".