Renfrew drug dealer who transported stash in Just Eat bags jailed for 16 months

A Renfrew man who was “staring down the barrel” of a prison sentence has been jailed after admitting to being a cannabis dealer.

On three separate occasions, Omar Omar was caught by police with £8,000 worth of cannabis.

When cops raided the 32-year-old’s home, they found more than £48,000 in mixed notes, several mobile phones and drug paraphernalia.

Cops also searched the takeaway owner’s Audi A6 where they discovered he had been stashing and transporting his drugs in Just Eat bags. The total amount of cash cops found Omar in possession of was over £60k.

Prosecutor Flora Napier previously told Paisley Sheriff Court Omar was caught with £1,000 in cash, two iPhones and more than 35 individual bags of cannabis on March 31, 2022, in Glasgow.

She explained: “Police on plain clothes patrol in an unmarked vehicle observed a black Mercedes S400 parked at the roadside. Officers approached the vehicle noting a strong smell of cannabis emanating from within and Omar was detained for a search.”

During the search, court heard officers recovered and seized £60 in cash from the cup holder, £940 cash from the rear passenger seat and a navy holdall which contained several other bags; each with individual deal bags of cannabis and two iPhones.

Ms Napier added: “The drugs recovered positively tested for cannabis.”

Cops then caught Omar red-handed yet again with £14,000 in mixed notes and a quantity of cannabis on September 2, 2022, in Kings Inch Road in Renfrew.

Ms Napier explained: “Officers on uniformed mobile patrol within an unmarked police vehicle observed Omar within the drivers seat of a Mercedes VRM in Xsite car park.

“Officers recovered a black leather holdall which contained seven silver heat sealed bags containing cannabis and a zip-lock bag labelled gelato containing cannabis.

“A further Nike holdall contained, £10,520 in mixed notes. £3,480 in mixed notes was recovered from the centre console of the car giving a total cash seizure of £14,000, and a gold iPhone.”

The court heard how Omar’s home in Whimbrel Wynd was raided on October 20, 2022, where cops recovered over £48,000 in mixed notes, six mobile phones and drug paraphernalia including scales set to ounces, branded zip-lock bags and multiple heat sealers.

Ms Napier added: “Prior to the end of the search, an Audi key fob was observed in the hallway.

“Omar stated it belonged to him, however, the vehicle was in the garage being repaired.

“Officers carried out enquiries and identified an Audi A6 parked outside the property, officers were able to press the key fob to unlock the vehicle. A search warrant was granted for the Audi.”

Within the flashy Audi, cops found eight zip-lock bags containing cannabis, a vacuum pack bag with 16g of cannabis, two vacuum pack bags containing cannabis in a Just Eat bag in the boot of the car, another 15 zip-lock bags containing cannabis in a Just Eat bag and 15 vacuum bags containing cannabis.

Ms Napier said the total value of cannabis recovered across the three dates was £8,000.

Defence agent Mr Sloan told the court Omar became involved in the supply of cannabis in a bid to repay his debt, he said: “He had accrued debt through his own foolish misuse of drugs.

“He felt a significant level of pressure by those he owed the debt too and felt there was no viable alternative. He was not the architect of this operation, he was selling to customers on the street as he was directed to do so.

“He is staring down the barrel of a significant sentence but my suggestion is he could be made subject to a very stringent community based order.”

Sheriff Smith slammed Omar stating: “This is a very serious matter and your involvement is serious.

“It covers a length of time and you didn’t learn your lesson – you were apprehended twice and still carried out this activity, you were caught with more than £60,000, seven mobile phones and various paraphernalia that points to you being involved in the trafficking of drugs, there is no alternative than a custodial sentence.”

Omar’s 16 month sentence was reduced from 24 months to reflect the early timing of his plea.

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