Fugitive jailed over 'top-tier' drugs and dirty money operation

A fugitive gang member has been jailed for five years and 10 months for his role in a £14m drugs and dirty money operation.

Prosecutors said John Gray was at the top level of supplying unadulterated cocaine, cannabis and diamorphine around Glasgow and nearby areas.

The 53-year-old - who had fled to the United Arab Emirates - was arrested when he landed at Glasgow Airport in March this year.

Gray, of Paisley, Renfrewshire, previously pled guilty to a charge of being involved in serious organised crime between August 2015 and June 2020 at the High Court in Glasgow.

He was caught during the Operation Escalade probe into the gang described as "the most sophisticated" Police Scotland had ever encountered for their dealings in drugs, firearms, serious violence and dirty money.

Gray was one of the most senior members of the group, alongside brothers Barry and James Gillespie and James "The Don" White.

The Gillespie brothers are among Scotland's most wanted men, but it is suspected they were killed while on the run in Brazil.

Meanwhile, White was jailed for almost 10 years over drugs and gun offences in 2023 after he was extradited from Brazil.

He was said to have taken over the group after the brothers disappeared.

Judge Lord Cubie said Gray had a "significant, sustained and persistent involvement in the supply, storage and adulterant of three drugs over a significant period of time as well as the movement of related money".

He said: "The purchase and sale of these drugs gives rise to misery, poverty, theft and death.

"Drugs are corrosive and destructive and your actions helped fund serious organised crime.

"The police said that this was a top-tier operation and you were described as integral. Your role was for financial gain and you sought to exploit the weakness and misery of others."

Gray was also given a three-year serious crime prevention order.

The judge added: "You missed your own mother's funeral.

"You left Scotland and followed a lifestyle which hampered your ability to live as you wish and this was your choice after being involved in offences of this matter.

"You will recognise that what you have pleaded guilty to is extremely serious which extended over a period of years at a high level."

Gray was initially spotted by police in a summit meeting with "principle members" of the group in Glasgow's Princes Square shopping mall.

Prosecutor Christopher Miller said: "The purpose was to ascertain the whereabouts of criminal cash in the excess of £1m."

He was also at another similar meeting at a KFC restaurant in Wishaw, as well as in nearby Motherwell town centre.

The gang members also got together on Gibson Street in Glasgow's west end.

Miller said: "Gray was seen to get in a car with James White and drive off."

Gray was further seen having a chat with White at a cafe in the city's Shawlands.

The court heard that Gray got an encrypted EncroChat device after meeting an associate at a Toby Carvery pub car park.

Like many criminals, this eventually led to his undoing after the legal authorities busted the phone network in 2020.

The prosecutor said Gray was involved in drug supply, as well as the "storing, processing and moving of money" associated with drug sales and funds for the organised crime group.

Gray was in touch on EncroChat with a string of underworld figures including Darren "Big Poppa" Collin - who was jailed for eight years for drug trafficking in 2020.

Miller stated that Gray was involved with an amount of cocaine worth between £4.5m and £13.5m, as well as cannabis worth £497,500.

Gray was also involved in collecting £1m as well as obtaining a substance to bulk out and help maximise profits for drugs.

Brian McConnachie KC, defending, said: "It seems to be the case that he became involved in this matter and got deeper into it as time went on.

"He wants to stay away from that kind of lifestyle and people he was involved with at that time."

Jail terms totalling more than 100 years have been imposed following convictions from the large-scale Escalade investigation.