Evidence gathered by prosecutors from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) showed how Klodian Ferizolli, 32, of Glasgow, supplied and sold cocaine and cannabis worth thousands of pounds.
He used EncroChat, an encrypted messaging platform favoured by criminals, almost daily using a specific ‘handle’ to set up drug deals with associates.
But his scheme unravelled when police linked the handle to Ferizolli through an image sent by him on EncroChat which matched the pattern of the bathroom floor tiles at his home.
Ferizolli was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow to three years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of being concerned in serious organised crime between March and June 2020.
Prosecutor Sineidin Corrins, of COPFS, said: “This was a coordinated effort to traffic significant quantities of illegal and harmful drugs throughout central Scotland.
“Klodian Ferizolli is now serving a prison sentence thanks to an extensive police operation, working with COPFS, to investigate a network of drug supply.
“I hope that this conviction sends a strong message to others involved in this kind of criminal behaviour and demonstrates the ability of police and prosecutors to investigate, prepare and prosecute serious and organised crime of this nature.
“We are targeting all people who threaten communities across Scotland, not only drug couriers but also those who direct their movements.
“With each case of this kind we can help reduce the harm these drugs do to those communities.”
Ferizolli’s illicit activities were revealed during a Police Scotland investigation into a Glasgow-based Albanian serious organised crime group which trafficked controlled drugs throughout central Scotland.
Messages between the accused and others on Encrochat involved multiple arrangements to buy and sell drugs.
One conversation involved discussing a property where a cannabis factory could be set up to grow 10kg of the drug.
Another discussion included lists and figures totalling £355,350 which was owed to Ferizolli, who also confirmed he had received £239,680.
He also sent a picture of a white powder referred to as "Columbiana” and offered to supply cocaine for £39,000 per kilo.
Ferizolli, who was also a director of a property management company, will now be subject to confiscation action under Proceeds of Crime legislation to recover monies illegally obtained.