Three drug traffickers involved in serious organized crime have been handed stringent court orders to prevent their continued illicit activities. Alan Stewart, Leslie Montgomery, and Matthew Cullimore were collectively sentenced to 14 years in prison for their roles in a crime syndicate operating between March 2020 and October 2022. Their criminal activities were uncovered through thousands of incriminating mobile messages discussing drug deals and transactions amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds. Following their incarceration, the trio – Stewart (44), Montgomery (64), and Cullimore (37) – were each issued Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs) at the High Court in Glasgow.
These SCPOs, which will remain in force for five years post-release, aim to safeguard the public and deter the trio from reoffending, adding an extra layer of protection upon their prison release. Sineidin Corrins, Deputy Procurator Fiscal for specialist casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), emphasized the significance of these orders in combating serious organized crime, restricting the individuals’ ability to return to illegal activities significantly. Any breach of a SCPO carries a potential five-year imprisonment term, highlighting the severity of consequences.
Stewart, Cullimore, and Montgomery were apprehended following the retrieval of EncroChat data by French and Dutch authorities, exposing their criminal plans to traffic large quantities of cocaine and cannabis across Ayrshire. Through Operation Wildcard – a police initiative targeting serious organized crime in the area – the trio was brought to justice. Stewart, identified as the syndicate’s leader, received a sentence of five years and four months, while Montgomery and Cullimore were each sentenced to four years and four months for their involvement in the criminal activities.
Additionally, the trio will undergo confiscation proceedings under Proceeds of Crime legislation to recover unlawfully acquired funds. The SCPOs, coupled with legal actions, underscore the collective efforts to combat organized crime and protect communities from its detrimental impact. By utilizing all available legal mechanisms, including SCPOs, authorities aim to restrict offenders’ activities and closely monitor them post-release to prevent any potential reengagement in criminal enterprises, ultimately ensuring a safer environment for all.