Glasgow Crime Research

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A businessman who decided to get involved in drug dealing has been jailed for seven years.

Mohammed Riaz was caught when detectives spotted him picking up heroin. They seized two kilos of the drug worth £200,000.

On Tuesday, he was jailed for seven years after previously being found guilty of supplying heroin.

Lord Uist told Riaz: "On each occasion you were instrumental in bringing into the Edinburgh area a kilo of heroin. Fortunately the police were able to intercept each consignment and prevent the drugs causing untold damage to drug users and the community in general."

The judge said it was clear from the evidence that Riaz was acting "in a managerial capacity" in the drugs transactions.

He said: "You have in the past been a successful businessman, but you voluntarily decided to become engaged in the business of dealing in heroin. This court has repeatedly warned of the severe consequences which will follow for those convicted of dealing in Class A drugs, such as heroin, and you must have been well aware of the risk you were taking."

Lord Uist pointed out Riaz, who has shop and property interests, had been operating at what prosecutors described as "higher level dealing".

Riaz, used to lived in Edinburgh but has since moved to Winslow, Cheshire.

The 40-year-old had denied being concerned in the supply of heroin in June and July 2009 at locations in Edinburgh, Bathgate and Glasgow. He was found guilty after a four-day trial.

Lord Uist told him: "The jury disbelieved the obvious lies which you told when giving evidence at your trial and convicted you on the basis of very strong evidence of being concerned in the supply of heroin on two separate occasions."

The judge said he noted that Riaz, also known as Rasul, had repeated the same lies to a social worker who prepared a background report on him ahead of sentencing.

Defence counsel Paul Nelson said Riaz maintained his innocence and there was nothing he could say.

The Crown has started proceedings to seize the profits of crime from Riaz.