LIFE ON ICE.. FOR 20 YEARS

Gangland kingpin Stevenson sentenced for huge drugs plot | Cartel behind bars after £76m cocaine-in-bananas bust

- MARK McGIVERN

CRIME boss Jamie “Iceman” Stevenson has been locked up for 20 years for his role in a massive international drug smuggling plot.

The rest of the cartel he fronted were caged for a total of 29 years at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday.

Police had carried out a huge drugs bust in 2020 after £76million of high purity cocaine was found smuggled inside boxes of bananas in Dover.

A street valium factory - which could churn out 250,000 pills an hour-was also uncovered in Kent.

Stevenson who used the nickname "bigtasty" in secretly recorded phone calls - pled guilty to directing others to commit a serious offence and being involved in serious organised crime.

Glasgow Fruit Market owner David Bilsland admitted being involved in cocaine smuggling.

Stevenson's stepson and trusted lieutenant, Gerard Carbin, pled guilty to being involved in serious organised crime involving etizolam from March to June 2020.

First offender Ryan McPhee and Paul Bowes who has convictions for counterfeiting and road traffic matters pled guilty on identical terms.

Lloyd Cross - who was sentenced to five years for aggravated assault in 2013 also pled guilty to being involved in serious organised crime.

Extra police were drafted in to provide a ring of steel in the courtroom for their sentencing.

Judge Lord Ericht told Stevenson: "You directed a complex operation for the importation and supply of cocaine.

"The operation involved cash being provided by you to fund David Bilsland's apparent legitimate business. You removed Bilsland as a director of Glasgow Fruit Market and registered in his a C place vulnerable man who allowed his signature and identification to be used while he knew nothing.

"You played a leading role in a complex operation of manufacturing and distribution of etizolam tablets.