A drug trafficker organised the smuggling of heroin into Scotland with tool boxes attached to the underside of a lorry by magnets.

Cameron McFarlane was jailed for nine years for tracking the 20kg of illegal cargo as the HGV made its way from the Netherlands to Millar International Freight at Bandeath Industrail Estate, Throsk, Stirlingshire.

Unknown to McFarlane, he had become a target for a police operation aimed at cracking down on a serious, organised crime gang.

He was under surveillance and was seen flying out of Glasgow to Amsterdam where the Dutch authorities also monitored his activities.

The lorry was seen returning to the yard of the firm where McFarlane had previously worked and a search of the vehicle found the drugs attached to its chassis.

The 20kg of heroin was estimated to be worth £600,000.

Lord Pentland told the 57-year-old at the High Court in Edinburgh: "You pled guilty to an extremely serious charge of being concerned in the supply of more than half a million pounds of high quality heroin."

The judge said McFarlane had provided guidance and direction to others to allow the drugs to be concealed for the smuggling operation.

"You made elaborate arrangements to monitor the movement of this vehicle by placing spyware on it," he said.

Lord Pentland said McFarlane's plan was to retrieve the heroin from the lorry at "a convenient time".

McFarlane has twice previously been jailed at the High Court for trafficking in Class A drugs and at the time of his latest crime had been released early from an open prison.

Lord Pentland told him: "It is especially concerning the present offence was committed while you were on licence in the community.

"You grossly breached the trust placed in you."

The judge said: "I conclude you are a hardened drug dealer with no respect for the law."

McFarlane, a prisoner at Low Moss jail, near Glasgow, admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin between September 25 and 28 last year at Bandeath industrial estate, Hull and Amsterdam.