Two businessmen whose companies sponsored Motherwell Football Club have been jailed after admitting their involvement in a major cocaine trafficking operation worth more than £11 million. David Stephen and Shaun Brown, both 30, from Hamilton, Lanarkshire, appeared at the High Court in Glasgow and admitted directing others to commit serious offenses related to organized drug trafficking. The pair have publicly presented themselves as successful businessmen through Lanarkshire-based company DX Home Improvements, whose logo appears on the sleeves of Motherwell shirts. Their company also sponsors a family racing night at Hamilton Park, while one of the pair appeared on a podcast to discuss the company’s success. Behind the photo, prosecutors said, the pair were involved in the purchase, storage, adulteration, transportation and sale of large quantities of cocaine while financing a lavish lifestyle that included luxury vacations, first-class travel, expensive watches and high-end cars, including matching Lamborghinis.
DX Home Improvements becomes men’s sleeve sponsor of Scottish Premiership side Motherwell FC/Photo: Motherwell FC
EncroChat news exposes massive 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 goes by the nickname “narrowninja,” while Brown operates under the aliases “simplebull” and “castlenut.” The pair exchanged nearly 12,000 encrypted messages related to the “purchase, collection, delivery, adulteration, storage and sale” of cocaine. The original offenses initially occurred between March and June 2020 and involved approximately 5 kilograms of cocaine. Prosecutor Alexandria Kirk said the drugs were mixed with cutting agents to maximize profits, creating a potential street value of around £600,000. Further investigation revealed that between August 2025 and December 2025, the two directed the sale and purchase of a total of 125 kilograms of cocaine.
David Stephen and Sean Brown/Picture: Police Scotland
Prosecutors said the estimated street value of the 125kg shipment, if sold at 90 pounds per gram, would be about 11.25 million pounds ($15.3 million). Images and videos found by police showed multi-kilo blocks of cocaine being opened and stamped with various stamps, while a seized mobile phone contained evidence of a group chat between two men and their associates. Stephan was also found to have sent Brown spreadsheets listing numbers related to the operation, often involving six-figure sums.
Luxurious lifestyles continue while businesses struggle financially
Although they continued to run DX Home Improvements publicly, it was later revealed that the pair was struggling financially and struggling to pay suppliers. Even so, they continue to post about luxury purchases and expensive trips on social media. The pair were arrested after a photo showed them posing next to matching Lamborghinis, while Stephen later returned to Scotland on an Emirates first-class flight from Dubai’s upmarket Til Al Ghaf resort. Police became involved on December 23, 2025, after Stephen stopped his Lamborghini Urus, with Brown as a passenger, at a petrol station in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire. Police seized six mobile phones from the pair, as well as videos of Stephen handling lumps of cocaine. Police also found 1,077 pounds ($1,465) in United Arab Emirates dirhams inside a blue Louis Vuitton bag, and another 750 pounds ($1,020) elsewhere in the car. Investigators further discovered that Stephen purchased a money counting machine online to handle cash in connection with the operation.
Judge says surgery caused ‘pain, poverty and death’
Judge Lord Coombe sentenced both men to six years and eight months in prison. He told both men during sentencing: “You both presented a facade of wealth. “The purchase, distribution and sale of cocaine causes suffering, poverty and death. “It was coercive and your motives were selfish.” The judge told Stephen it was “unfortunate” he had not focused on achieving legal success through business rather than drug income, while Brown had been criticized for helping distribute addictive substances despite previously claiming alcohol had had a negative impact on his own life. Lord Cubby added: “There is a strong public interest in suppressing the criminal activity in which you were involved.”
Defense lawyers and police responded after the sentencing
Thomas Ross KC, defending Stephen, and Brian McConnachie KC, defending Brown, both argued the case lacked elements such as violence or firearms that are usually associated with organized crime prosecutions. Ross said the debt initially led Stephen to become involved in criminal activity and said his client accepted full responsibility. McConnachie told the court the DX Home Improvements business was set up in July 2020, initially funded by proceeds from drug dealing, and later operated independently until financial pressures re-emerged. Extra police were called to the court during the hearing following reports of a suspected security issue involving one of the defendants. Detective Inspector Gary Semple later said the case showed how police continued to use EncroChat data to target organized crime gangs operating across Scotland. “Those involved in this type of criminal activity should be aware that they cannot hide behind encrypted platforms to evade detection and our ability to detect and investigate this type of crime will only improve further,” he said. Cinedine Collins, prosecutor at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, added: “This was a coordinated operation to facilitate the movement of large quantities of illegal and harmful drugs through Scotland. “We are targeting all those who threaten communities across Scotland, not just drug dealers but those who direct their operations.” The pair will now also face confiscation proceedings under proceeds of crime legislation aimed at recovering funds obtained through trafficking.
