Police saw film of drugs handover

The court heard how the drugs were placed in a car

A drugs deal was captured on video by detectives, a court has been told.

James Clark, 26, of Fallin in Stirlingshire, was filmed putting cannabis resin bars into a car boot.

The vehicle was then driven away by his co-accused Christopher Rankine, 30, of Carronshore, Falkirk, the High Court in Edinburgh heard.

When intercepted later by officers, the consignment was found to weigh just over five kilograms with a wholesale value of about £3,000.

Advocate Depute Alex Prentice, prosecuting, said the police set up a surveillance operation following a tip-off.

They watched Rankine drive up to Clark's address and - after a brief conversation - the "significant contents" of a rucksack were put in Rankine's car boot.

Rankine was stopped whilst driving to Ayr and told officers he had "never seen" the 20 bars of cannabis resin before.

Later, he admitted he had been asked to pick up a package as a favour and suspected it contained drugs.

Both men pleaded guilty to being concerned in supplying the drug in October 2003.

They are due back in court in October for sentencing after background reports have been prepared.