Pubdate: Wed, 15 Oct 1997 Source: Press & Journal (Aberdeen, UK.) Contact: Trio handed 20 years for drug trafficking by Ken Banks THREE Highland men who masterminded a major drugtrafficking team at a secluded cottage started sentences totalling nearly 20 years last night. The distribution of ecstasy and amphetamine with a street value of nearly £80,000 was centred in Easter Ross. However, James McQuillan, 37, Mark Kent, 45, and 20yearold Gordon Glancy all paid the price at the High Court in Aberdeen yesterday for their respective roles . Police said last night they had smashed a highlevel dealing team. But they admitted the trio represented only one of a number of major drug outfits dealing in the Highlands and Islands, and vowed to continue the fight to "combat this menace". McQuillan, a prisoner in Glenochil, and Kent, formerly of Milton of Culloden, Inverness, were jailed for nine years and five years respectively. And Glancy, formerly of Dingwall, was given a sentence of 51/2 years. The Northern Constabulary raids that snared the trio were the culmination of a complex inquiry into a major drugtrafficking operation. Police said the quantity of drugs and their values spoke for themselves, and that the investigation began, thanks to both force intelligence and information from members of the public. All three men were involved in the supply of drugs, which were obtained in Glasgow and taken north. Detectives raided Kent's home at 1 Steading Cottage, Meddat Farm, Easter Ross, and found a cache of 251 ecstasy tablets and almost 1,600 grammes of amphetamine in plastic food tubs buried in the garden. Firstoffender Kent and Glancy earlier admitted various offences of being concerned in the supply of amphetamine and ecstasy. McQuillan admitted being concerned in the supply of amphetamine and attempting to incite others to supply cocaine and ecstasy while a prisoner. Sentence had been deferred from Inverness to Glasgow for reports, but was further deferred to Aberdeen yesterday as someone had lost the judge's notebook. The court heard yesterday that McQuillan had two previous High Court convictions for drugs offences, and his life was controlled by illegal substances. Kent, the court was told, was ashamed of his firstever conviction, while Glancy had been a "very minor player". Lord MacLean jailed McQuillan for eight years on the amphetamine dealing charge, and a further year for inciting Glancy to supply him drugs while serving an unrelated fiveyear sentence in prison. He had asked Glancy to persuade a girl to visit him and kiss him and pass drugs into his mouth. Jailing Kent for five years, Lord MacLean dismissed an appeal for a sentence other than custody, which he said was quite unrealistic and would have been improper. He sentenced Glancy to one year due to his restricted role, but a further 41/2 years for intent to supply 70 ecstasy tablets worth £1,400 found in his girlfriend's flat while on bail. None of the men showed any emotion as they were led from the dock, and Glancy's family declined to comment. Detective Inspector Peter Black, head of Northern Constabulary's drug squad, said last night: "We are very pleased with the result of this operation. "The conviction of these individuals has assured that a very active highlevel drugstrafficking team has been put out of action."