Cocaine is now class A problem

COCAINE seizures are continuing to rise in the Lothians as drugs gangs look to flood the Capital with the class A drug.

Detectives have uncovered 10kg of cocaine with a street value of nearly £500,000 in the last five months. The growing supply of the drug has helped see its cost tumble from £90 a gram to as low as £35 in just six years.

But police warned today that dealers were also looking to increase their profits by cutting their supplies to as little as three per cent purity.

Detective Inspector Gary Inglis, head of the city's drug squad, said: "There is evidence that more cocaine is coming into the force area over recent years. That comes from our intelligence work and the levels of seizures.

"Those dealers at the top of the chain will buy in high purity cocaine. But they will mix it with a variety of adulterates then repackage it in bags so the dealers they sell to believe it's pure and untouched. Those dealers cut it again and as the cocaine passes down the chain, more and more things like icing sugar are added.

"We seized a batch of cocaine this year that was three per cent pure. These people want to make the most money they can."

Police have seized cocaine containing a variety of substances including sugar, cement, caffeine and pharmaceutical products such as novocaine. Seizures since April mean police are on course to seize more than £1 million worth this financial year, compared to £845,000 and £790,000 in the two previous years.

DI Inglis said his team frequently seize cocaine from drug mules employed to bring the drugs to the Capital from dealers in English cities like Manchester and Liverpool. Many are addicts themselves who have built up heavy debts to local dealers and carry out the runs to pay it off.

Only a handful of city gangs control the supply of large amounts of cocaine in Edinburgh, with criminals based in the Inch and Gilmerton areas believed to be responsible for the bulk of the trade.

The force's drug awareness officers, who educate youngsters in city schools, believe modern celebrity culture has given the former "yuppie drug" a fashionable cachet.

Pc Steve Bissett, a drugs awareness officer based at Drylaw police station, said: "These dealers will use talcum powder, washing powder and sugar to cut it.

"In recent years, they have also started using pharmaceutical products which can mimic the effects of cocaine to an extent and trick buyers into believing its the real thing. They use benzocaine, a cream used to treat insect bites, lignocaine, an anaesthetic for mouth ulcers, novocaine, paracetamol and caffeine.

"Even before it departs South America, the leaves are turned into cocaine paste with cement, caustic soda, ammonia, quicklime, sulphuric acid and petrol. It's getting cheaper as it's more adulterated."

Cocaine Anonymous has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people attending its meetings in Edinburgh within the last year.

He said: "We've seen a one-third increase in numbers at our 18 meetings across Scotland this year and that includes Edinburgh. Our group was started in 2001 before the prices dropped and availability increased. Now we have even more people coming to our door with the same problems."

At least one in 20 people between 16 and 29 admits to using cocaine in the past year, five times more than in 1996, according to a recent survey.

Although most users take the drug on a purely recreational basis every so often, about one in seven will become seriously addicted.

The Evening News spoke to three regular cocaine users from across the social spectrum about their use of the drug and its potential pitfalls.

'Those who don't do it are in the minority'
LARA'S dinner party desserts are legendary among her friends and fellow finance workers. It comes out after the food, champagne and cocktails – grams of cocaine cut into lines and served on a silver platter

"I'm quite famous for it in my social circle," smiles the 29-year-old. "I liked it from the first time I tried it at a party eight years ago. And everyone's doing it.

"It's pretty inexpensive too. It costs me around £50 for a gram, and I get this from a colleague at work. On average, I'll get a couple of grams a month.

"Those who don't take it are in the minority. It's affordable, it's accessible. I can unwind and have fun, plus it gives me the extra bit of confidence and humour I might not have from alcohol. It's also healthier than alcohol and I can maintain my figure without quaffing a day's worth of calories."

She dismisses experts' warnings about the risks of blood pressure, heart problems, convulsions and paranoia.

"If you let all the scaremongers worry you, you'd never leave the house," she says. "I suppose I am the epitome of middle-class respectability. I was the captain of the hockey team at school, I went to university, my parents are both professionals and I am successful in my career in finance. So I don't fit the stereotype society chooses for drug users."

'Being sacked was an overdue wake-up call'
HELEN'S cocaine habit ended up costing her job as a solicitor which, in turn, cost her her Grange home and Audi TT

"I just got carried away," explains the pretty 33-year-old, who now lives in South Queensferry. "I got caught up in the whole drugs and social cycle. I'd take it on Fridays and Saturdays with colleagues and friends, then on a Sunday night to help me prepare for work on Monday. Then, before I knew it, I was taking it before big presentations and boardroom meetings."

Helen was offered cocaine in the toilets at a staff party when she was 24. It seemed glamorous, a bit of fun and a way to boost her self-confidence.

"All the popular and successful girls were doing it and I thought, why not? The result was amazing. I felt more self-assured, confident and talkative. Suddenly I was no longer the mousy new girl, I was the one working the room."

Within months Helen was buying around four grams every pay day. On the surface her work was improving – she was getting promotions, bringing in clients and succeeding in the face of mounting workloads. Then, during Christmas 2006, it all came crashing down.

"We were at a work bash and I had brought a couple of lines with me. I was in and out of the toilet all night taking another line.

"But I left the cubicle door open and was caught by one of the big bosses who was furious. But I didn't care. I thought I was simply talking to her about the situation but apparently I was shouting and threatening her – the confidence had overflowed into arrogance and self righteousness."

On the Monday, Helen was sacked. "I was lucky that the police weren't involved," she shrugs. "I was devastated. I'd worked hard since schooldays and I'd ruined it. The company were well connected and it wasn't long before many influential people knew. My name was ruined."

Within four months, she had to sell her beloved flat and car.

"I could have asked my parents for help, but I was too ashamed," she admits.

"But it was the wake-up call that was long overdue.

"I decided to follow my passion of property developing and interior design and managed to start up my own company.

"The sad thing is a lot of my ex-colleagues are still doing it. You only have to walk into certain bars on George Street and Stockbridge to see it."

'It's not the sort of thing I picture myself doing in the long term'
STEVEN works as a labourer on building sites in the Capital and uses cocaine with friends as part of their weekend binge drinking sessions
The 26-year-old, who lives in the Leith area, first tried the drug about two years ago and has since tried it about 20 times, sometimes mixing it with ecstasy.

"One of my mates had got hold of some one weekend and we all tried it together," he says.

"I just liked the buzz and it allows you to keep drinking for longer without seeming as drunk. It's good for chatting up girls when you're out because it gives you extra confidence.

"But sometimes we'll just stay in the flat and do some lines while playing cards or watching a movie or something. If you split a gram between two then you get fives lines each which will keep you going for the night. If there's six of us we might get three grams at £40 each.

"I only ever do it at weekends so I'm not too worried about getting addicted. The stuff we get seems to be pretty good, though, as we get it from an old mate from school.

"I know a few guys I work with who are into it and they're in their late-30s with kids. It's not the sort of thing I picture myself doing in the long term. It would be pretty tragic to keep doing it as you get older."