The Underworld Captain: From Gangland Goodfella To Army Officer by Shannon Alexander

Author:Shannon, Alexander [Shannon, Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Mainstream Publishing
Published: 2011-04-06T16:00:00+00:00

Tam Shannon was still violent and was a bit of a loose cannon, while police suspected Pawny of being the most prolific drug dealer in Scotland. This was a time when drugs were really swamping the schemes and clubs. A group who became known as the Happy Dust Gang had pioneered a thriving trade in cocaine from Europe until an informer caused their demise in the early 1980s. The leaders had been jailed, but their success had not gone unnoticed and there were plenty of others ready and willing to take over the mantle of the supplier, despite the prospect of a long prison sentence.

As time went on, more routes were opened up. More money was invested by businessmen who ensured their own security by staying away from Glasgow and paying others to take risks. Ever increasing quantities of heroin were finding their way into the veins of the young, causing premature death and misery. Ecstasy tablets were changing hands for up to £20 a time, while temazepams, better known as yellow jellies, may have been less potent but their price tag was cheaper. Some felt the move to harder drugs was partially the fault of the police, who had used considerable resources to track down those smuggling in less destructive drugs such as hash usually hidden in cars driven from Spain. An example of that was the arrest of Pawny late one afternoon.

Almost certainly through a tip-off from an informer keen to remove competition, the police believed that Pawny had established a very straightforward supply route. He would fly to London, do his deal and return, carrying a substantial amount of drugs, sometimes heroin, sometimes cocaine, sometimes pills, sometimes hashish. And so they placed in position a very expensive surveillance operation. Pawny was watched. When he flew to London, it was noted. When he returned, he was followed to see whom he met. He usually simply went home or visited another family member. It was decided that on his return from his next trek south, he would be arrested. Police waited to see whom he met when he arrived at the Glasgow airport terminal, wondering if it might be a courier who would take whatever package he had on to dealers. They were surprised to see him drive off alone and assumed the bag at his side contained drugs. As he headed onto the Kingston Bridge, amongst the rush-hour traffic, chaos ensued. It was suddenly blocked off and onlookers noticed a helicopter hovering overhead. Armed men shouting, ‘Police,’ ran from unmarked cars and arrested him; however, a search of his person and property revealed nothing incriminating.

As he sat in a comfortable coach heading back from London to Glasgow, Tam had no inkling of the drama unfolding many miles to the north. He could allow himself an occasional smile. In the locker above him was a holdall containing a selection of drugs. He and Pawny operated a simple routine. They would travel south separately, Pawny by air, Tam in a

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