Took three days to search tonne of cocaine hidden in banana boxes, court hears

A senior officer claimed it took three days to search close to a tonne of cocaine hidden in a banana box shipment from South America.

James Stevenson is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of masterminding a worldwide drug smuggling ring.

Stevenson is said to have directed the trafficking operation which spanned the UK, Spain, Ecuador and the luxury Nurai Island resort in Abu Dhabi.

The 59-year-old and five others appeared in the dock for the start of witness evidence on Monday.

Prosecutors have listed 14 charges in a seven page indictment of accusations which span between January and September 2020.

952kg of cocaine was found hidden in banana boxes from Ecuador addressed to Glasgow Fruit Market

They include claims Stevenson allegedly ordered a Lloyd Cross, David Bilsland, 67, and un-named others to commit “a serious offence” by importing and supplying cocaine.

It is alleged the class A drug was to be “concealed in deliveries of fruit” destined for the “Glasgow Fruit Market” at an address in city’s Townhead.

Dirty money is said to have funded the set-up involving the purchase of equipment, leasing premises, buying cars and registering company directors under fake names for the “Glasgow Fruit Market”.

The court heard from Michael Miller who is the senior officer at the National Crime Agency (NCA).

He told jurors that the highest purity of powder cocaine from source that is possible is 89% with hydrochloride adulteration also being added.

Mr Miller said that the average purity of cocaine purchased in a pub in 2020 was 11% but could be between 9 and 13%.

Mr Miller claimed that cocaine was brought to the UK from mainland Europe in HGVs or boats from South America.

A joint minute of agreed evidence sated that there were 952kg of cocaine hidden in banana boxes from Ecuador addressed to Glasgow Fruit Market between May and September 2020.

The purity of the 119 foils of cocaine recovered was not less than 73%.

Mr Miller and a team of Scottish officers were tasked with analysing the boxes at a Home Office location in the south of England over the course of three days.

Jurors were shown images of the boxes marked with the Calypso brand as well as pictures of green bananas inside.

The boxes had a label stating that they were being exported by “Ernati” and the boxes had a description of “premium bananas” which were “imported by Glasgow Fruit Market Limited”.

Videos of the beginning and end of the search between September 28, 2021 until September 30, 2021 were played to the jury.

Mr Miller explained that within 40 individual packages, there were eight blocks weighing one kilo each which they nicknamed “bags of sugar”.

The blocks were wrapped in different coloured foil – red, blue and black – with some of the wrappers bound together with a tar like substance.

The witness later stated to Tony Graham KC, representing co-accused Gary McIntyre, that packages have been known to have false names on them or the address written on the label to be for next door.

Encrypted mobile devices busted by French law enforcement

Senior manager at the NCA Wayne Johns, 49, told jurors about encrypted EncroChat mobile devices which were busted by French law enforcement in April 2020.

As a result, Operation Venetic investigated the information from the encrypted network.

Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC asked: “In all the work you did, have you come across at any time, a legitimate business using EncroChat?”

Mr Johns replied: “No, I have not.”

The witness stated that people could buy the devices from re-sellers for between £1,200 and £1,500.

Mr Johns stated that the phones could be wiped by turning them off or by creating a “Panic Password” which could be as little as one digit long.

Messages between parties could also be erased after one second to 14 days, dependant on the user’s preference.

Jurors were told that identities on the network were anonymous with usernames in their place.

Mr Ross raised concerns over the reliability of the data recovered as French authorities have not revealed the software used to access the EncroChat servers.

Mr Johns said: “We went back to get further details but it was protected by French national security.”

Stevenson is also accused of a number of other charges.

Among them, it is alleged he teamed up with another man for the “collection, storage and onward transmission” of £1.04m of criminal funds.

This was apparently helped with the use of “encrypted communication devices”.

One charge states Stevenson, Bilsland and 43 year-old McIntyre were involved in “serious organised crime”.

The three face a separate charge under the Custom and Excise Management Act of being involved in the importation of controlled drugs.

The indictment further claims the trio were concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Stevenson and Gerard Carbin, 45, are said to have directed Paul Bowes, 53, Ryan McPhee, 34, and another individual to take part in the production and supply of street Valium and the tranquilliser Alprazolam.

A further charge claims Stevenson was involved in serious organised crime with a person now said to be in prison.

This is said to have involved the collection, adulteration and supply of cocaine.

The indictment also states encrypted communication devices were used and “concealed hides” in cars for moving drugs.

The final charge claims Stevenson conspired with others to set fire to a number of properties and cars including a beauty salon in Hamilton, Lanarkshire.

A further special defence of incrimination were lodged by Stevenson against White, John Gurie and a Stephen Jamieson whose present whereabouts are unknown.

The trial continues before Judge Lord Ericht.