Police Scotland and the National Crime Agency have cracked a £100 million drugs empire run by Jamie Stevenson, also known as the Iceman. The sophisticated operation was brought down by the collaborative efforts of top detectives from both agencies at the Scottish Crime Campus. Stevenson’s gang was targeted through the Organised Crime Partnership, with assistance from the Crown Office lawyers on site to navigate through the complex evidence.
Detective Superintendent Dave Ferry, head of Police Scotland’s Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit, highlighted the success of the crime campus in mapping out the drug transportation network from South America to Scotland. The close collaboration between law enforcement partners, including the NCA, Police Scotland, and the Crown Office, was crucial in dismantling the criminal empire.
Stevenson admitted to directing a drug trafficking operation that imported cocaine from Ecuador and distributed millions of etizolam pills across different countries. The operation, known as Operation Pepperoni, involved international coordination with agencies from Netherlands, Spain, and the USA. Stevenson and five gang members pleaded guilty to various drug charges at the High Court in Glasgow.
The timeline of Operation Pepperoni revealed the extent of Stevenson’s criminal activities, leading to his arrest in the Netherlands after fleeing from the UK. In 2020, simultaneous raids on a pill factory in Kent and a hotel in Glasgow resulted in Stevenson’s capture. The interception of a tonne of cocaine worth £76 million in Dover marked a significant blow to the drug smuggling operation.
Stevenson’s conviction and sentencing in October 2024, along with his gang members, culminated in a major victory for law enforcement agencies. The successful prosecution of Stevenson and his associates underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling organised crime. The Scottish Crime Campus played a pivotal role in bringing Stevenson’s drug empire to its knees, demonstrating the effectiveness of a unified approach in combating criminal enterprises.