Cocaine smuggling ring

James Stevenson, along with five others, has gone on trial at the High Court in Glasgow, accused of orchestrating a drug smuggling operation that involved concealing cocaine in fruit deliveries, specifically bananas, intended for Glasgow's Townhead area. The operation allegedly spanned multiple countries, including the UK, Spain, and Ecuador, with accusations dating back to early 2020. Prosecutors have detailed 14 charges against Stevenson, who has claimed that the crimes were the work of others currently imprisoned. During the trial, it was revealed that the UK Border Force intercepted a shipment containing 952 kg of cocaine, with a purity of 73%, in September 2020. In a separate case, Sajid Ali was convicted for attempting to smuggle £11 million worth of cocaine into the UK via a banana-filled container from Ecuador, leading to a collective 62-year prison sentence for those involved. Both cases underscore the international reach and complexity of drug trafficking networks operating in and around the UK.