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British bodybuilder busted for pack of Valium sent from Pakistan.
Michael Coats, who is a former pupil of George Heriot's School, was caught red-handed when police mounted a sting operation on a postal box after intercepting the package.
The 28-year-old bodybuilder, from Relugas Place in Blackford, admitted being concerned in the supply of the class C drug while on bail, despite insisting he thought he had been picking up his order of steroids.
He claimed he had not ordered the diazepam, worth up to ?6400, and instead blamed his friend, Alexander Robb, who rented the box at Mailboxes Etc in Morningside Road.
Coats, an electrical engineering student, pleaded guilty during a hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday.
Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said: "On April 22 last year, a package addressed to Alexander Robb was intercepted by customs officers in Coventry at the Royal Mail international hub. The package was examined and was found to contain 6400 diazepam tablets.
"The package, which was sent from Pakistan, was re-packed and sent to the post box address in Edinburgh. Lothian and Borders Police were advised by customs and it was found that the post box itself had been opened in 2009 by Alexander Robb.
"On April 26, the package was delivered and Michael Coats attended at the shop to pick it up where he was seized by police.
"Michael Coats advised officers that Alexander Robb had allowed him to use the mail box for the importation of steroids."
Mr Kapadia said the diazepam seized by police could have fetched between ?1700 and ?6400 depending on whether the tablets were sold in bulk or individually.
He added: "The Crown do not accept he did not know the package contained diazepam."
Coats' defence agent, Katherine More, said: "Alexander Robb was someone Michael Coats knew for 20 years and trusted. He did not know the package contained diazepam. That package was destined for Alexander Robb, who must have been responsible. Michael Coats went to the mail box to pick up steroids."
On the street, a 10mg tablet of diazepam is available for ?1 or less. Diazepam is smuggled into Scotland from legitimate sources in Europe, while it is also being bought over the internet from India, Pakistan and Thailand.
Michael Coats, who is a former pupil of George Heriot's School, was caught red-handed when police mounted a sting operation on a postal box after intercepting the package.
The 28-year-old bodybuilder, from Relugas Place in Blackford, admitted being concerned in the supply of the class C drug while on bail, despite insisting he thought he had been picking up his order of steroids.
He claimed he had not ordered the diazepam, worth up to ?6400, and instead blamed his friend, Alexander Robb, who rented the box at Mailboxes Etc in Morningside Road.
Coats, an electrical engineering student, pleaded guilty during a hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday.
Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said: "On April 22 last year, a package addressed to Alexander Robb was intercepted by customs officers in Coventry at the Royal Mail international hub. The package was examined and was found to contain 6400 diazepam tablets.
"The package, which was sent from Pakistan, was re-packed and sent to the post box address in Edinburgh. Lothian and Borders Police were advised by customs and it was found that the post box itself had been opened in 2009 by Alexander Robb.
"On April 26, the package was delivered and Michael Coats attended at the shop to pick it up where he was seized by police.
"Michael Coats advised officers that Alexander Robb had allowed him to use the mail box for the importation of steroids."
Mr Kapadia said the diazepam seized by police could have fetched between ?1700 and ?6400 depending on whether the tablets were sold in bulk or individually.
He added: "The Crown do not accept he did not know the package contained diazepam."
Coats' defence agent, Katherine More, said: "Alexander Robb was someone Michael Coats knew for 20 years and trusted. He did not know the package contained diazepam. That package was destined for Alexander Robb, who must have been responsible. Michael Coats went to the mail box to pick up steroids."
On the street, a 10mg tablet of diazepam is available for ?1 or less. Diazepam is smuggled into Scotland from legitimate sources in Europe, while it is also being bought over the internet from India, Pakistan and Thailand.
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