A North Ayrshire couple face the High Court over an alleged prison drug lab worth up to £2.3 million. Prosecutors say this is a Scottish first.

Nicol Parker, 48, and Mhairi Hughes, 45, both live at Garnock Street in Dalry. Both pleaded not guilty to twelve charges at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court. Prosecutors allege the couple ran a prison drug lab from their bathroom. They reportedly produced synthetic cannabinoids known as “spice,” a class B substance sold within prisons for use in vapes or on treated paper.

The alleged offences took place between 25 September and 11 October 2024.

A Prison Drug Lab Scotland Has Never Seen Before

The alleged synthetic drug production operation left even specialist officers stunned. Prosecutor Craig Wainwright told the court that Police Scotland’s statement of opinion unit had never encountered anything like it.

“It is of sufficient complexity that the statement of opinion unit of Police Scotland has never seen the likes,” he told Sheriff David Hall. “It’s the first time they’ve seen it nationwide.”

Only three officers across the whole of Scotland hold the qualifications needed to assess these substances. That shortage contributed to what the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service called an “oversight” and “complications.” As a result, the Crown missed the deadline for indicting the case.

Charges Linked to Synthetic Drug Production

Parker and Hughes face four charges over the alleged production of various synthetic cannabinoids. They also face four further charges of being concerned in the supply of those same substances. Prosecutors additionally accuse both of supplying class A drug MDMA, class B substance ketamine, and class C drug etizolam.

The pair also face an allegation of tampering with an electricity meter to bypass it. If proven, this would suggest they deliberately concealed the synthetic drug production operation from utility providers.

Both continue to deny all charges.

Crown Takes Prison Drug Lab Case to Higher Court

Earlier this month, the Crown moved to re-raise proceedings after obtaining a new police report. That report valued one drug recovered from the property at between £1 million and £2.358 million.

Solicitors for both accused initially refused the Crown’s motion to re-raise the matter. But when Parker and Hughes returned to Kilmarnock Sheriff Court this week, lawyers Hugh Duncan and Alex Muir withdrew their objection.

Prosecutor Wainwright asked Sheriff David Hall to extend the relevant time bars. This would allow the prison drug lab case to proceed at High Court level. He told the court the complexity of the alleged operation fully justified the extension.

Sheriff Hall agreed and granted the extension. Bail continued for both accused.

Why Spice in Prisons Is a Growing Public Concern

This case sits within a troubling wider picture. Synthetic cannabinoids have become one of the most serious problems in Scottish and UK prisons. According to the Scottish Prison Service, drug-related issues rank among the most pressing challenges in custodial settings. Synthetic substances prove especially hard to detect because their chemical makeup changes frequently.

In England and Wales, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has linked psychoactive substances to a significant number of prison deaths. One report found that around 60% of prisoners who died while in custody had detectable substances in their system at the time of death. The human cost of synthetic drug production operations reaching prison walls is severe and well-documented.

If the allegations against Parker and Hughes are proven, their case would stand as one of the most serious examples of a domestic prison drug lab supplying Scotland’s prison system.

The case now moves to Scotland’s most senior criminal court.

Source: dbrecoveryresources