Glasgow Man Avoids Jail After Using Taxi to Transport £100K Drugs

A man who used a taxi to transport over £100,000 worth of drugs in Glasgow has avoided jail despite pleading guilty to drug supply charges. Isa Ali, 23, was caught by police in the city’s Pollok area on April 20, 2021, after officers detected a strong smell of cannabis coming from the taxi's boot. A search of the vehicle uncovered 177 grams of cocaine valued at £5,000, alongside 14 kilograms of cannabis worth £100,000.

Cases involving drug-related offenses within the taxi industry have led to significant legal repercussions. In a similar instance, a taxi driver in North Ayrshire lost their licence due to a drug conviction, highlighting the consequences for those involved in such activities.

Ali was a passenger in the taxi, which had made multiple stops before officers intervened. Prosecutor Danielle McGuinness described how police working from a Glasgow City Council CCTV van became suspicious due to the strong odour.

Prosecutor Danielle McGuinness said:

"Officers could smell a strong smell of cannabis from the vehicle in front of them."

Following the discovery, Ali was arrested and charged with being concerned in the supply of both cocaine and cannabis. He later admitted to an additional charge of dangerous driving related to a separate incident on January 5, 2022, when he was seen driving a BMW erratically in Glasgow’s Nitshill area. Officers observed Ali repeatedly accelerating and decelerating, changing lanes unpredictably, and attempting to evade police by performing a U-turn.

Despite the severity of the offences, Sheriff Andrew McIntyre opted for a non-custodial sentence. Ali was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work, placed under supervision for two years, and subjected to a one-year electronic tag, requiring him to remain indoors between 8 pm and 7 am. Additionally, he was disqualified from driving for one year and nine months.

Police officers noted:

"Officers were alerted to the cannabis as well as cocaine due to the strong smell coming from the taxi's boot."