Encrypted messages help Scottish authorities take down international drug gang

Digital forensics have helped Scotland’s prosecution services take down an international drug gang which attempted to import a tonne of cocaine into the country.

A team of Crown Office specialists have exposed a worldwide trafficking operation after scrutinising encrypted messages to match the criminals' identities.

For the past three and a half years, prosecutors have been sifting through a “tranche” of messages on the platform EncroChat, which enables criminals using special handset devices to adopt and hide behind code names, and have now exposed six men who attempted to bring Class A drugs from South America into Scotland.

The team sifted through the messages to match the true identities of each accused with their secret EncroChat handles, leaving the accused with “no alternative but to tender guilty plea” a week into their trial at the High Court in Glasgow, authorities have said.

Working with foreign jurisdictions in Europe, the Crown was able to demonstrate a trail of global drug trafficking that led to a fruit merchant in Glasgow.

Amongst those sentenced is drug smuggler James Stevenson, known as the 'Iceman', who has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. The 59-year-old pled guilty to two charges – directing a serious criminal offence of importation of cocaine and being involved in organised crime through production and supply of etizolam, known as street valium.

David Bilsland, 67, admitted a charge of agreeing to import cocaine and was handed to a six-year sentence. Paul Bowes, 53, pleaded guilty to being involved in organised crime linked to the production and supply of class C drug etizolam at a string of premises including the Nurai Island Resort in Abu Dhabi, London and Rochester, Kent, and was also sentenced to six years imprisonment.

Gerard Carbin, 44, and Ryan McPhee, 34, pled guilty to the production and supply of etizolam, and were sentenced to a seven and four years in prison, respectively. Lloyd Cross, 32, pleaded guilty to serious organised crime and drug offences and was sentenced to six years in prison. 

Deputy Crown Agent Kenny Donnelly, who leads the fight against serious organised crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “It was clear from the EncroChat messages that, as the ringleader, he directed the group. The cocaine they were planning to distribute would have undoubtedly contributed to misery in our communities. 

“These convictions are a testament to the forensic and meticulous work undertaken by specialist Crown Office prosecutors to bring Stevenson and his five co-accused to justice and I would like to commend their efforts.”

Other evidence gathered by the Crown, the National Crime Agency and Police Scotland linked Stevenson to a factory in Kent that produced street valium tablets worth millions of pounds.

Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry, Police Scotland’s head of organised crime, added: “The sentencing of Stevenson, Bilsland, Bowes, Carbin, McPhee and Cross following their guilty pleas sends out a clear message that the activities of those who think that they can bring illegal drugs into our communities will not be tolerated.

“I want to acknowledge the hard work and diligence shown by the officers who investigated the group and provided the evidence in what was a complex investigation. 

“It also and shows the value of working with our law enforcement partners, including the National Crime Agency and those abroad and underlines Police Scotland’s unwavering commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and its national strategy.

“This multi-agency operation, which spanned several countries, prevented a huge haul of illegal drugs reaching our communities and will have undoubtedly saved lives. 

“However, we cannot be complacent, and our officers will continue their work to ensure Scotland remains a hostile environment for organised criminals."