Boss of international crime gang lived 'lavish' lifestyle despite being unemployed

A boss of an international organised crime group whose “lavish” lifestyle included a wardrobe packed full of “designer brands” in a “luxurious” house has been jailed.

William Stewart, 36, was given seven and a half years for his role in a “meticulously organised” drugs gang which operated in Scotland, Europe and Asia.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard on Thursday how Police Scotland officers enlisted the help of Dutch colleagues to bring Stewart and his two accomplices to justice.

Judge Michael O’Grady KC heard how Stewart had been operating as a gangster in central Scotland at the same time he was claiming to be unemployed.

But when detectives raided the house he was staying at in East Kilbride in July 2024, they found he was staying in a luxury home.

Officers then entered the property and found that Stewart was driving a top-of-the-range BMW and wore expensive, exclusive clothing.

The raid came after police had been investigating how a number of parcels containing herbal cannabis had been delivered from abroad to addresses in Midlothian.

Drug squad officers had also been working colleagues in the Netherlands.

Their Dutch colleagues had swooped on a delivery at the Port of Rotterdam containing “two trucks” which were being imported from Thailand and contained cannabis with a potential street value in excess of £1m.

Officers in Scotland learned that the other men were Ryan Weir, 33, and Alexander Sharp, 34.

On Thursday, the trio appeared for sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Weir was given three years and nine months, whilst Sharp was handed two and a half years.

Passing sentence, judge O’Grade told Stewart: “It is abundantly clear that you played a major role in organising, facilitating and directing an enterprise, which in your case had tentacles stretching beyond these shores to Europe and even the Far East.

“If you were not a general, you were certainly not a foot soldier – you were a ranking officer who was trusted with organisation, importation and the instruction of others in the mechanics of processing and supply.

“The depth and breadth of your role must be reflected in sentence.”

The story emerged following a hearing at the high court last month.

Stewart, of East Kilbride, Weir, of Wishaw, Lanarkshire, and Sharp, of Blackburn, West Lothian, pleaded guilty to drugs offences. They also admitted charges of being involved in serious organised crime.

At the earlier hearing, prosecutor John Keenan KC told the court about the moment officers arrested Stewart and discovered the no-expense-spared lifestyle he was living.

Mr Keenan added: “Following the receipt of information, he was arrested at Glasgow Airport on July 4, 2024.

“At the time of arrest, he was using a mobile phone which was also seized. A further phone was seized from his luggage.

“The accused’s partner’s address was searched, and quantities of cash were recovered along with a cash count machine.

“There were significant signs of wealth within the address. Several items were noted which indicated the accused William Stewart was living a lavish lifestyle despite being unemployed.

“The accused William Stewart was living in a luxurious house in East Kilbride.

“His wardrobe was noted to have designer clothing, including designer brands such as Louis Vuitton, Balmain, Dolce and Gabbana, Christian Louboutin and similar brands.

“The accused William Stewart’s car, a BMW X5, is estimated to be worth in excess of £70,000, which indicates that the accused was benefiting and living a lavish lifestyle from the proceeds of criminality.”

The court heard how Police Scotland officers launched Operation Stunt to investigate gangland activity in Midlothian. The racket carried out by the accused lasted between August 2023 and July 2024.

UK Border Agency staff contacted their Scottish police counterparts after intercepting packages sent through the post which contained cannabis and were addressed to people staying in Midlothian.

Mr Keenan said that Police Scotland detectives visited Dover to recover some of the packages from the UK Border Agency.

They also travelled to an international postal hub in Coventry to intercept some of the packages. A couple of the parcels were addressed to Weir.

The court heard that the phone seized from Stewart contained messages which showed that he was acting with Weir and Sharp in a large-scale drugs importation enterprise.

When officers raided Weir’s property in August 2024, they found a hydraulic press, four bags of powder, scales and three disposable masks.

Mr Keenan said that Weir’s DNA was on the equipment.

Meanwhile, police found incriminating messages on Stewart’s phone, which showed the level of the criminal endeavour.

The court heard how the officers uncovered evidence that “two trucks” were being sent to Scotland from Thailand. The Dutch authorities traced the trucks to Rotterdam docks.

Mr Keenan told the court that at the end of the police investigation, officers had recovered 14.5 kilos of cannabis in Scotland with a maximum street value of £174,000.

The court heard that the maximum street value of the drugs seized in Rotterdam had a maximum street value of £1.1m.

Mr Keenan said no heroin was recovered. But messages between the accused contained references to their being involved in the supply of the drug.

On Thursday, solicitor advocate Rhonda Anderson said her client, Stewart, was deeply remorseful for his actions.

She added: “He has lost a lot as a consequence of his actions. He has lost a loving relationship and his family are hurt and are embarrassed.

“He has resolved to never be involved in drugs ever again.”

Graeme Brown KC for Weir told the court that his client knew a prison term was “inevitable”.

Sharp’s lawyer David Moggach KC told the court: “He still enjoys the support of his family.”

Judge O’Grady also passed a serious crime prevention order on Stewart for four years.

This means Stewart will have to cooperate with the authorities and disclose details of his relationships and life following release to ensure he doesn’t return to a life of crime.