Prison for money laundering crime

Karen Johnston and Donald Birrell were jailed for 14 years

A man and woman have been jailed for a total of 14 years after admitting money laundering and drugs offences.

Donald Birrell, 39, and Karen Johnston, 46, were sentenced to 10 years for money laundering and fraud and four years for drugs respectively.

It marked the culmination of a lengthy operation by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA) to tackle drugs in the north east.

They were jailed at the High Court in Aberdeen.

Dozens of people have been jailed for a total of almost 80 years as a result of the operation.

Johnny Gwynne, acting deputy director general of the SCDEA, said: "This detailed investigation targeted an organised crime group which was affecting communities across a significant area of Scotland with a particular focus in the north east.

"Seeing operations like this concluding successfully is why we are here, to bring some respite to people struggling with the affects of drug abuse in their lives, homes or families."