James Stevenson, 59, is accused of 14 charges including money-laundering. The 14 charges span from January until September 2020, and relate to consignments of bananas shipped from Ecuador to the Port of Dover in 2020. Co-accused David Bilsland, 67; Garry McIntyre, 43; Gerard Carbin, 44; Paul Bowes, 53; and Ryan McPhee, 34, face fewer charges, including being involved in the production and supply of Class C drugs, and being concerned in the importation of cocaine.
The accused deny all the charges against them. The jury were sworn in and a joint minute of agreed evidence was read to them at the start of the trial at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday. Prosecutor Michael Mackintosh told the court that on September 21 2020, UK Border Force officials intercepted crates of bananas from Ecuador, addressed to a company, Glasgow Fruit Market, which contained a total of 952 blocks of cocaine each weighing one kilo – just less than a tonne.
Between May and September 21 2020, some 18 consignments were shipped to the company – followed by a further two which arrived after law enforcement officers made the discovery, the court heard. Forensic officers from the National Crime Agency and Police Scotland later tested the drugs. Jurors heard that the Class A drug was of 73% purity in 119 foil packages, each containing eight blocks of compressed white powder.
Locations named on the indictment include the port city of Puerto Bolivar in Ecuador; Hotel Melia, Plaza del Puerto, Alicante, Sp.