A DUNFERMLINE man was arrested during a police operation that resulted in cocaine worth £190,000 being seized.

Officers watched a bag being handed through the open sunroof of David Notman's car before he drove off.

It contained cocaine with an estimated value of £20,000.

They then recovered more drugs from his supplier's home.

Notman, 33, of Black Loch Place, Dunfermline, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court today (Wednesday).

He admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, on April 19 last year.

With him in the dock was Stephen Gaffney, 40, of Stonefield Crescent, Blantyre.

He admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug at his then home in the town's Aldersyde Place on the same date.

Scott O'Connor, prosecuting, said police officers received intelligence that Gaffney had drugs and might be involved in a deal.

He told the court: "They went to the area about 3pm and saw a Volkswagen Golf. Notman was the driver.

"At this time Gaffney was walking towards the Golf with a supermarket carrier bag.

"He stopped and passed the bag through the open sunroof of the vehicle and Notman drove away immediately.

"A decision was made to stop the vehicle for a search and Notman was detained.

"Officers recovered a block of white powder that tested positive for cocaine.

"It weighed 500g and had a value of approximately £20,000."

Police then got a search warrant for the house in Aldersyde Place where they were met by Gaffney's grandmother.

Three taped blocks of cocaine, each weighing around 1kg and bearing a clown logo, were found in a suitcase behind a wardrobe in a bedroom.

Mr O'Connor said the total estimated value of these was £170,000.

He added that the values of blocks varied due to differing levels of purity.

Notman's lawyer said he has a "relatively short" list of previous convictions, but went on: "He understands that custody will be uppermost in the court's mind."

Sheriff Liam Murphy told the accused: "Given the nature of the offence, the custody threshold has clearly been passed.

"Neither of you has served a custodial sentence before so I require background reports and electronic tagging assessments before deciding what the appropriate sentences should be."

The case was adjourned until next month and both men had their bail continued.