The “Banana” gang and its leader were brought to their knees after being discovered by Border Force

The leader of the conspiracy was sentenced today to 20 years in prison

The ringleader of a plot to smuggle £76m worth of cocaine from Ecuador into the UK via shipments of bananas has been jailed for 20 years.

James Stevenson, 59, known as The Iceman, pleaded guilty midway through his trial at the High Court in Glasgow to two charges – masterminding a serious offense involving the importation of cocaine and engaging in organized crime involving the production and supply of etizolam, known as street Valium. On Wednesday, the same court sentenced Stevenson and five other men to a total of 49 years in prison.

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Passing sentence, Judge Lord Ericht said Stevenson “led a complex cocaine importation and supply operation” and “played a leading role in the production of street Valium” and police seized 13.5 million tablets.

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The court previously heard Border Force officers at the Port of Dover seized 18 shipments of bananas destined for the Glasgow Fruit Market between May and September 2020. They contained cocaine with a purity of 73%, weighing almost a tonne and with a street value of 76 pounds. million.

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Fruit market trader David Bilsland (68) pleaded guilty to a charge of consenting to the importation of cocaine, and co-defendant Paul Bowes (53) pleaded guilty to participating in organized crime relating to the production and supply of class C etizolam to a number of premises, including including Nurai Island Resort in Abu Dhabi, London and Rochester in Kent.

Both were sentenced to six years. The owner of a vehicle recovery company, Lloyd Cross, 32, pleaded guilty to conspiracy before trial and also received a six-year sentence.

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Stevenson’s stepson Gerard Carbin, 44, and co-defendant Ryan McPhee, 34, pleaded guilty to engaging in organized crime in the production and supply of etizolam. Carbin was sentenced to seven years and McPhee to four years in prison. The plot was foiled by French law enforcement officers who infiltrated the encrypted EncroChat network in April 2020.

The court heard Stevenson and Bilsland, a trader from Glasgow Fruit Market, met at a hotel in Alicante, Spain, to discuss the plan on February 14, 2020, in what was believed to be the first meeting between the two men.

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The messages showed that Cross and Stevenson met in a park to discuss plans for April 2020, while Bilsland organized shipments of bananas and worked with Cross to use their companies to finance drug imports, with, the court heard, vehicles rescues are used to deliver and collect cash.

The court was also told that a shipment of more than 13 million street Valium tablets was being prepared and that a raid in Rochester in June 2020 uncovered equipment capable of producing 258,000 tablets per hour.

Stevenson was arrested, released and later fled to the Netherlands, but was captured there in February 2022 and extradited after being named by the National Crime Agency as one of the UK’s most wanted men. As the court heard, Stevenson and Carbin were sentenced to prison in 2007 for money laundering.

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Sentencing Stevenson, Lord Ericht said: ‘You provided cash to fund David Bilsland’s apparently legal activities, resulting in Mr Bilsland being removed as a director and replaced by a vulnerable person without his knowledge.

“The messages show you discussing 1-kilogram blocks and discussing the appearance of legality and the need to start sending fictitious loads and 18 shipments of bananas and cocaine with a purity of not less than 73%. He said Stevenson also played a “leading role” in the production of etizolam, including at a production facility in Rochester.

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The judge told Bilsland: “You met with Stevenson in Spain and arranged the shipment with the port authorities and others,” but told Carbin he was “significantly involved” in the etizolam program.

McPhee was told: “You agreed to take and transport 2.5 million etizolam tablets. You delivered one million pills, and the other shipment you referred to, Mr. Carbin, was for five million. The delivery was not intended to be a one-off.”

Sentencing Bowes, the judge said: “You had a significant involvement in the etizolam case. You have received a shipment of 500,000 tablets.” The judge described Cross’s role in the cocaine operation as “significant.”

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In mitigation, Thomas Ross KC, defending Stevenson, said: “He knew exactly what he was doing and appreciates that your Lordships must deliver a sentence that serves as a deterrent to others.”

The court heard Bilsland, a lifelong fruit trader who ran his father’s business and supplied products to hotels and celebrities, was planning to retire and was looking for a buyer in the community for his business – but a stranger contacted him and agreed to sell.

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Defending Bilsland, Gary Allan KC said: “At a meeting in Alicante he realized beyond any doubt that he was involved in criminal activity, during which he learned that his fruit business was being used to import drugs.

“He admits he should have withdrawn from the program. He regrets that he did not have the strength of character to do so.” Defending McPhee, Iain McSporran said the attraction for the defendant was “easy money”.

Donald Findlay KC, on behalf of Carbin, said: “I hope that after meeting Mr. Carbin I can say that this is a man who realizes that enough is enough.” Defending Bowes, Bob Mitchell said: “He is particularly ashamed of the impact this has had on his family.” John Scullion, defending Cross, said: “He accepted full responsibility, his motivation was financial.”