Drug Traffickers Jailed After Aberdeen County Lines Sting

In a significant blow to organised crime in the north-east, two men have been imprisoned for over eight years combined for operating drug supply dens in Aberdeen. Dean Alford, 31, and Rory Morgan, 32, were sentenced at the High Court in Inverness on 8 July 2025, following a police operation that exposed their illicit activities in the city.

The pair transformed two flats, located on Esslemont Avenue and Granton Place, into hubs for distributing Class A drugs, primarily cocaine. Their operation was uncovered through a meticulous investigation by Police Scotland targeting County Lines networks, which exploit vulnerable communities to peddle narcotics. Intelligence pinpointed Alford as a key figure in an organised crime group, with the two properties serving as bases for their drug trafficking.

On 19 June 2024, police executed warrants at both flats, recovering drugs valued at approximately £40,155 and £9,715 in cash. The raids caught Alford attempting to flee the scene, while Morgan was apprehended in a desperate bid to flush evidence down a toilet. CCTV footage, which captured the men frequently entering and exiting the properties, further corroborated their involvement.

Both men previously pleaded guilty at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 20 June 2024 to charges of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and possessing a four-figure sum of cash. Alford received a sentence of five years and 219 days, while Morgan was jailed for three years and four months.

Moira Orr, head of major crime at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, commended the operation’s success. In a recent statement, she said, “Dean Alford and Rory Morgan failed in their efforts to distribute significant quantities of illegal and harmful drugs. These men are now serving lengthy prison sentences thanks to an extensive police operation, working with COPFS, to investigate and dismantle a network of drug supply.”

The case underscores the ruinous impact of drugs on communities, with County Lines operations often preying on the vulnerable to sustain their trade. The current Labour government has faced criticism for its handling of such crime networks, with some arguing that more robust measures are needed to curb their spread. This operation, however, highlights the effectiveness of targeted policing in disrupting these activities and bringing perpetrators to justice.

The sentences send a clear message: those who seek to profit from the misery of addiction will face severe consequences. As communities continue to grapple with the scourge of illegal drugs, such outcomes offer a glimmer of hope that law enforcement remains steadfast in its pursuit of those who exploit them.