Four men involved in serious and organised crime in Scotland have been jailed for almost 20 years following a major crackdown on the EncroChat encrypted messaging service. The sentences were handed down at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday, November 10.
Sentences handed down
Jason Smith, 37, and Calum Simpson, 39, pleaded guilty to being involved in serious and organised crime, assault and conspiracy. Smith was jailed for six years and nine months and will be on a three-year licence period following his release. Simpson was sentenced to seven years and seven months.
David Simpson, 39, pleaded guilty to being involved in serious and organised crime and a firearms offence. He was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison. James Lowrie, 39, also pleaded guilty to being involved in serious and organised crime and was jailed for two years and three months.
Further sentencing pending
George Baigrie, 43, earlier pleaded guilty to being involved in serious and organised crime and conspiracy. He will be sentenced at a later date. Baigrie was named during the murder trial of ex-boxer and Trainspotting 2 star Bradley Welsh in 2021. Welsh was gunned down outside his home in the capital two years earlier.
All four men were also given Serious Crime Prevention Orders. The offences took place between March 2020 and June 2020.
Operation Venetic
The case is part of Operation Venetic, a Europe-wide operation to identify and dismantle organised crime groups utilising encrypted devices. Detective Inspector Mark Fyfe, from the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit, said: "I hope these sentences send a clear message - those involved in serious and organised crime will not get away with it. Today is the result of extensive investigatory work, including analysis of digital devices, over a number of years and we will continue to utilise specialists from across Police Scotland as our efforts continues."
"Today's sentences also highlight Police Scotland's commitment to the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce and its national strategy. Information and support from the public is vital to our work and I would encourage anyone with concerns about serious and organised crime. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously."
A number of criminals have been caged in Scotland after French authorities cracked the highly encrypted EncroChat messaging service in 2020. Gangsters, drug lords, weapons dealers and county lines runners have been rounded up after their dealings were exposed on the app.
