Two businessmen whose company sponsored Motherwell FC have been jailed after admitting their involvement in a major cocaine trafficking operation worth more than £11 million. David Stephen and Shaun Brown, both aged 30 and from Hamilton in Lanarkshire, appeared at the High Court in Glasgow where they pleaded guilty to directing others to commit a serious offence linked to organised drug trafficking. The pair had presented themselves publicly as successful businessmen through their Lanarkshire-based company DX Home Improvements, whose logo appeared on the sleeves of Motherwell shirts. Their business had also sponsored a family race night at Hamilton Park, while one of the two had appeared on a podcast discussing the company’s success. Behind that image, prosecutors said the pair were involved in the purchase, storage, adulteration, transportation and sale of huge quantities of cocaine while funding a lavish lifestyle involving luxury holidays, first-class travel, expensive watches and high-end cars including matching Lamborghinis.
DX Home Improvements served as the men’s sleeve sponsor for Scottish Premiership side Motherwell FC/ Image: Motherwell FC
EncroChat messages exposed large-scale cocaine operation
According to details reported by BBC Scotland during the court proceedings, Stephen and Brown used the EncroChat encrypted phone network to communicate with associates involved in the trafficking operation. Stephen used the handle “narrowninja”, while Brown operated under the aliases “simplebull” and “castlenut”. The two exchanged nearly 12,000 encrypted messages linked to the “purchase, collection, delivery, adulteration, storage and sale” of cocaine. The original offending initially spanned between March and June 2020 and involved approximately 5kg of cocaine. Prosecutor Alexandria Kirk said the drugs were organised to be mixed with cutting agents to maximise profits, creating a potential street value of around £600,000. Further investigation later revealed that between August and December 2025, the pair directed the purchase and sale of a total of 125kg of cocaine.
David Stephen and Shaun Brown/ Image: Scotland Police
Prosecutors stated the estimated street value of the 125kg haul reached approximately £11.25 million ($15.3 million) if sold in one-gram deals at £90 per gram. Police recovered images and videos showing kilogram blocks of cocaine with various stamps being unwrapped, while one seized phone contained evidence of group chats involving both men and their associates. Stephen was also found to have sent Brown spreadsheets listing figures, often involving six-figure sums, linked to the operation.
Lavish lifestyle continued while business struggled financially
Despite continuing to operate DX Home Improvements publicly, messages later showed the pair were struggling financially and having difficulties paying suppliers. Even so, they continued posting luxury purchases and expensive trips on social media. One image showed the pair posing beside matching Lamborghini vehicles, while Stephen later travelled from the upmarket Til Al Ghaf resort in Dubai back to Scotland on a first-class Emirates flight shortly before both men were arrested. Police moved in on December 23, 2025 after Stephen stopped his Lamborghini Urus at a petrol station in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, with Brown travelling as a passenger. Officers seized six mobile phones from the pair, along with videos of Stephen handling blocks of cocaine. Police also recovered £1,077 ($1,465) in UAE dirhams stored inside a blue Louis Vuitton bag as well as an additional £750 ($1,020) elsewhere in the vehicle. Investigators further discovered Stephen had purchased a money-counting machine online to process cash linked to the operation.
Judge says operation caused “misery, poverty and death”
Judge Lord Cubie sentenced both men to six years and eight months in prison. Addressing the pair during sentencing, he said: “You both showed the trappings of wealth. “The purchase, distribution and sale of cocaine gives rise to misery, poverty and death. “This was coercive and your motivations were selfish.” The judge told Stephen it was “a pity” he had not focused on legitimate success through business rather than drug money, while Brown was criticised for helping distribute addictive substances despite previously claiming alcohol had negatively affected his own life. Lord Cubie added: “The public’s interest is high in suppressing the criminal activity you were involved in.”
Defence lawyers and police respond after sentencing
Thomas Ross KC, defending Stephen, and Brian McConnachie KC, defending Brown, both argued that the case lacked elements such as violence or firearms that are often associated with organised crime prosecutions. Ross stated that debt had originally contributed to Stephen becoming involved in criminal activity and said his client fully accepted responsibility. McConnachie told the court the DX Home Improvements business, established in July 2020, was initially funded using proceeds from drug trafficking before later operating independently until financial pressures emerged again. Extra police officers were drafted into court during the hearing following reports of a suspected security concern linked to one of the defendants. Detective Inspector Gary Semple later said the case demonstrated how police continue using EncroChat data to target organised crime groups operating across Scotland. He said: “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 added: “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.” Both men will now also face confiscation proceedings under Proceeds of Crime legislation aimed at recovering money obtained through the trafficking operation.
