Three men have been sentenced for their roles in an elaborate drugs smuggling plot, which involved hiding large quantities of cocaine and heroin inside fake solar panel generators. The men—John Bonner, Christopher Laycock, and David Kelly—were part of a serious organised crime network operating between March 2020 and January 2022.
The scheme was uncovered after a police operation led by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) revealed the men’s involvement in laundering money and trafficking drugs. The operation, which started in January 2022, began with surveillance on the suspects loading pallets into a van in Hillington, Glasgow. The goods were subsequently transported to a business park in Essex, where police uncovered five pallets containing large fake solar panel generators.
These fake generators had been designed with voids lined with lead and foil, to evade detection by Border Force x-ray scanners. The counterfeit panels were capable of concealing up to 400kg of illegal drugs, with authorities believing the drugs were intended for transport back to Scotland after being received in Alicante, Spain.
The operation was part of two major investigations: Operation Buggy, which investigated drug trafficking from Spain into Scotland, and Operation Escalade, targeting one of Scotland’s most prolific crime groups. The investigation also revealed the men’s connection to notorious crime bosses James White and Paul Fleming, who are currently serving long sentences for their roles in similar drug operations.
EncroChat, an encrypted communications platform often used by criminals, revealed incriminating messages exchanged between the defendants and their associates. Laycock had been in contact with White, discussing the movement of large sums of money, while Kelly’s DNA was found on the fake generators he helped load. The defendants’ roles were confirmed during the investigation, leading to their arrests.
At the High Court in Glasgow, the three men pleaded guilty to serious organised crime charges. In Edinburgh, Bonner, 38, received a sentence of five years and 10 months for his role as a collector for the drug sales. Laycock, 52, was sentenced to six years and nine months for advising on the creation of a bogus shell company, while Kelly, 42, was jailed for five years and 10 months for transporting illicit drug money.
In addition to their prison sentences, all three men will serve serious crime prevention orders (SCPOs) lasting three years upon their release, designed to prevent their return to crime. They will also face confiscation action under proceeds of crime legislation.
Detective Chief Inspector Laura Sands of Police Scotland emphasized the significant impact of the case, stating that the men believed they were above the law. The convictions highlight the effectiveness of collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in dismantling organised crime networks.
Sineidin Corrins, deputy procurator fiscal for serious casework at COPFS, said the case demonstrated the authorities’ determination to investigate and prosecute serious criminal operations. She added that the sentences should serve as a strong warning to others involved in similar criminal activities, reinforcing efforts to reduce the harm caused by drugs in Scottish communities.
