Two men appear in court accused of drug dealing and serious organised crime offences

Two men have appeared in court charged with drug dealing offences following an investigation by organised crime cops into the Encrochat phone network.

David Stephen and Shaun Brown appeared in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court today, Christmas Eve 2025.

And the pair, who are both 30, will spend Christmas behind bars after being remanded in custody over the case.

Stephen, of Hamilton, faces two charges of drug dealing and two of involvement in serious organised crime.

Brown, also of Hamilton, faces one serious organised crime involvement charge and two drug dealing charges.

They made no plea to the charges against them and the cases were continued for prosecutors to investigate further.

No future court dates have been set, but they are expected to make a second appearance in connection with the case next week.

The drug dealing charges they face were brought under Section 4(3)((B) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

The serious organised crime charge they both face is a breach of Section 28(1) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.

Stephen alone also faces a charge under Section 30(1)(B) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.

Yesterday, Tuesday, December 23, 2025, Police Scotland said they had been arrested in Cambuslang, on the outskirts of Glasgow, by officers from the force’s Organised Crime and Counter Terrorist Unit.

The force said they were detained as part of a large-scale operation targeting those involved in serious and organised crime and drug supply.

Their arrests came as part of Operation Venetic, the European-wide operation aimed at dismantling crime syndicates using encrypted mobile phones.

Detective Superintendent Steven Elliott said at the time: “Today's arrests are a further outcome of the interrogation of EncroChat data by officers dedicated to identifying and disrupting organised crime groups operating in Scotland.

“Analysis of this data remains a priority, with advances in policing enabling us to continue progressing our enquiries. 

“Working with partners we are now and will continue to be in a position to make further arrests.

“Our team continue to investigate and we will identify further individuals who used the EncroChat network and report their actions to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

“This work is a priority to tackle serious and organised crime as part of the wider approach through the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce.”