Jamie ‘Iceman’ Stevenson’s right-hand man, Lloyd Cross, has been sentenced to six years in jail for his involvement in a £100 million plot to smuggle cocaine from Ecuador in banana boxes. The former football hooligan, known as a “top boy” among Rangers fan group Union Bears, climbed the ranks of the international drugs racket alongside one of Scotland’s biggest criminal kingpins. Cross, 32, pleaded guilty to his role in the smuggling plot and organized crime before the trial began.
Photos and videos emerged in 2018 showing Cross embroiled in a conflict between police and Rangers fans in Maribor, Slovenia. His gangland connections became common knowledge, leading to his sidelining from the “ultra” group as his focus shifted towards the international drugs trade. Cross’s reputation took a hit among Rangers fans after being implicated in leaking information to rival supporters, prompting his withdrawal from social media and the public eye.
At the High Court in Glasgow, Cross arrived in a Porsche Cayenne before being remanded for his plea. The mastermind behind the drug operation, Jamie Stevenson, was sentenced to 20 years for his involvement. Fruit market trader David Bilsland, along with Paul Bowes, received six-year sentences. Stevenson’s stepson, Gerard Carbin, and co-accused Ryan McPhee were sentenced to seven and four years, respectively.
The drug smuggling plot was dismantled by French law enforcement officers who infiltrated the encrypted EncroChat network in April 2020. Stevenson and Bilsland met at a hotel in Spain to discuss the plan, with Cross using his vehicle recovery firm, LM Recovery, to facilitate the movement of drugs within the UK. The court revealed that Cross and Stevenson met in a park to strategise, while Bilsland arranged banana shipments to fund the drug importation scheme.
Cross, portrayed as a flashy individual with a lavish lifestyle, held directorships in several companies, presenting a facade of a successful businessman. The court also uncovered plans for the delivery of over 13 million street valium pills, with equipment capable of producing 258,000 pills per hour discovered during a raid. The judge highlighted Cross’s significant role in the cocaine operation.
The downfall of Cross and his associates marks a significant victory in the fight against organised crime and drug trafficking. With the key players behind bars, law enforcement authorities aim to disrupt and dismantle further criminal networks involved in drug smuggling activities.