Motherwell FC sponsors jailed for running £12m cocaine operation

Two men who claimed to be respectable businessmen have been jailed for 6 years and eight months for running a £12m cocaine smuggling operation.

David Stephen and Shaun Brown sponsored Scottish Premiership club Motherwell FC through their firm DX Home Improvements.

But the pair, both aged 30, were caught just before Christmas last year in a police operation targeting serious organised crime.

Stephen and Brown, from Hamilton in Lanarkshire, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to a charge of directing others to commit a serious offence.

Judge Lord Cubie said: "The purchase, distribution and sale of cocaine gives rise to misery, poverty and death.

"This was coercive and your motivations were selfish."

The cocaine dealing initially spanned between March and June 2020.

Stephen and Brown communicated with associates on the EncroChat phone network used by criminals

Stephen was known as 'narrowninja' and Brown used the handles 'simplebull' and "castlenut'.

They exchanged almost 12,000 messages with others over the "purchase, collection, delivery, adulteration, storage and sale" of huge hauls of cocaine.

One phone belonging to Stephen was found to have a string of encrypted messaging apps and evidence of both men being in a group chat with associates.

It revealed a total of 125kg of cocaine - at the direction of both - was purchased and sold between August and December 2025.

Prosecutor Alexandria Kirk said the street value of 125kg of cocaine was estimated to be £11.25m, if sold in one-gram deals at £90 per gram.

Further incriminating messages showed multiple images of kilogram blocks of cocaine with different stamps and videos showing them being unwrapped.

Stephen sent Brown a spreadsheet - often listing six-figure sums - regarding their operation.

The pair remained managing directors of their DX Home Improvements business.

But later messages revealed the duo were struggling to pay their suppliers but continued to live a lavish lifestyle, often boasting on social media about luxury goods, expensive cars and first class flights.

One picture showed the duo with matching Lamborghinis.

As well as the partnership with Motherwell FC, the company also sponsored a family race night at Hamilton Park.

They were caught by police shortly after Stephen had travelled from Dubai to Scotland.

Thomas Ross KC, defending Stephen, and Brian McConnachie KC, defending Brown, both highlighted that their clients' crimes were absent of violence and firearms as is seen in similar types of cases.

McConnachie stated that their business, set up in July 2020, had initially been funded by drug money.

Police Scotland Det Insp Gary Semple said the case was down to police using EncroChat data to identify and disrupt organised crime groups

He added: "Those involved in this type of criminality should be aware that they cannot hide behind encrypted platforms to evade detection and our ability to detect and investigate this type of offending will only advance further."

Prosecutor Sineidin Corrins, of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (Copfs), said: "This was a co-ordinated effort to facilitate the movement of significant quantities of illegal and harmful drugs through Scotland.

"We are targeting all people who threaten communities across Scotland, not only drug couriers but also those who direct their movements."