Five members of a drugs gang connected to the notorious Scottish crime boss Jamie ‘Iceman’ Stevenson, who orchestrated a £100 million cocaine smuggling operation, have been sentenced to a total of 29 years in prison. Stevenson, known as ‘The Iceman’, admitted guilt during his trial at the High Court in Glasgow and received a 20-year sentence for importing cocaine and involvement in organised crime, particularly the production and distribution of etizolam (street Valium).
Among the convicted gang members, Lloyd Cross, David Bilsland, Paul Bowes, Ryan McPhee, and Gerard Carbin were each handed jail terms today at the High Court of Glasgow. Cross, a vehicle recovery firm owner, and Bilsland, a fruit market trader, both received six-year sentences for their roles in the drug plot. Bowes was sentenced to six years for his part in the production and supply of etizolam at various locations, including abroad.
McPhee and Carbin, involved in organised crime related to etizolam, were handed four and seven-year sentences, respectively. The court mentioned that the gang members would face confiscation measures under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover illicit proceeds and could be subject to serious crime prevention orders in the future to disrupt further criminal activities.
The drug trafficking scheme involved concealing cocaine within banana shipments from Ecuador, intercepted by Border Force officers at the Port of Dover. The cocaine seized had an estimated street value of £76 million. This operation was uncovered through the infiltration of the EncroChat network by French law enforcement in 2020.
Stevenson and Bilsland were reported to have met in Spain to discuss the smuggling plan, while Cross was allegedly implicated in arranging logistics and funding through his business. The gang intended to distribute millions of illicit pills, with equipment capable of producing a large quantity discovered during a raid in Rochester in 2020. Stevenson was eventually apprehended in the Netherlands and brought back to face justice.
Deputy Crown Agent Kenny Donnelly highlighted the extensive efforts by law enforcement agencies to dismantle the drug network led by Stevenson. He emphasised that no efforts would be spared in pursuing and prosecuting drug traffickers, and commended the prosecutors for their meticulous work in securing convictions. The gravity of the offences warranted the sentences imposed on Stevenson and his associates.
The successful prosecution of Stevenson and his gang members serves as a significant victory in combating serious organised crime, sending a clear message that drug traffickers will face consequences for their actions. The collaborative effort between police, prosecutors, and international law enforcement agencies underscores the commitment to tackling drug-related crimes and protecting communities from the harmful impact of drug trafficking.