Banana box drug plot kingpin gets 20 years

THE leader of a drug plot to smuggle £76million worth of cocaine into Britain in boxes of bananas was yesterday jailed for 20 years.

- Paul Jeeves

James Stevenson, 59 - once named as one of the UK's most wanted men - pleaded guilty mid-trial to directing the importation of the massive haul of Class A drugs from Ecuador.

He also admitted being involved in organised crime through the production and supply of etizolam - a Class C drug known as "street valium".

Iceman

Five other men admitted their parts in the drug plots and are due to be sentenced.

But Glaswegian Stevenson, known as "The Iceman" was the kingpin.