Pubdate: Sat, 06 Nov 1999 Source: Press & Journal (UK) Copyright: 1999: Northcliffe Newspapers Group Ltd. Contact: http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ DRUGS MAN HAD SPEED HAUL An Aberdeen man was yesterday found guilty of being concerned in the supply of amphetamine in the city. Graeme Craig, 37, of 16 Oscar Place, was convicted after a three-day trial at the High Court in Aberdeen. Sentence has now been deferred for background reports until the end of this month. The trial had heard how officers had uncovered class B amphetamine, known as speed, with a street-value of UKP28,000 to UKP100,000, in Craig's council flat in Victoria Road, Torry, last October. Unemployed Craig said that, although it was his council tenancy, he had not been living in the flat and lodged a special defence of incrimination. Giving evidence at the trial, Craig said the drugs may have belonged to another person who had keys to his flat. The jury yesterday took just over an hour to convict Craig, who has a previous conviction for possession of drugs in 1995. Craig had been detained in the city's Castlegate on Sunday, October 11, last year. He had been with a man wanted by police in connection with another matter. When searched, Craig was found to have UKP500 in cash in his possession and a polythene bag hidden in his underpants containing eight smaller bags of amphetamine, the court had heard. Police then searched the Torry flat and found 619g of amphetamine in a plastic bag. A sniffer dog had found the stash, hidden underneath a floorboard below the kitchen sink. It was found to contain 16% amphetamine, while the drug found on the street would generally be around 2% pure, the court heard. Drugs squad officer Detective Constable Colin Walker said the drug may be "bulked-out" before being supplied. During the search, police also uncovered a set of scales and what police believed to be tick-lists, the court was told. In the witness stand, Craig admitted taking amphetamine, but denied all knowledge of the drugs found at the flat. Summing up the evidence, defence advocate David Moggach told the jury: "There is nothing you have heard in evidence that would tie Mr Craig into knowing about the drugs under the sink. "I would submit to you that the Crown has failed to establish that Mr Craig was concerned in the supply of illegal drugs from the flat in Victoria Road." Prosecuting advocate depute Jamie Gilchrist said: "What you have is a whole series of circumstances from which, I would suggest, you can build up a pretty good picture." Lord Reed deferred sentence for background reports until the sitting of the High Court in Edinburgh on November 26. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea