Two in court after organised crime drugs arrests

Two men have appeared in court accused of being involved in drugs offences linked to organised crime.

David Stephen and Shaun Brown, both 30, are alleged to have transported cocaine and cannabis as well as money at two properties in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, between March and June 2020.

Stephen faces a separate charge of using an encrypted messaging service under the name "Wateryrose" to direct another person to commit an offence linked to organised crime.

The pair, both 30, made no plea during an initial appearance at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

Stephen and Brown were arrested in Cambuslang on Tuesday as part of a large-scale operation by Police Scotland's Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit.

It formed part of Operation Venetic - a Europe-wide operation "to identify and dismantle organised crime groups utilising encrypted devices".

Officers claim the pair knowingly arranged transport and delivered controlled drugs to other people as part of their role within a criminal group.

Stephen faces an additional charge of directing people, whose identity is unknown to the prosecutor, to commit an offence aggravated by serious organised crime.

He is also alleged to have collected cocaine and criminal money as well as delivered controlled drugs to others.

Sheriff Paul Reid remanded the two men in custody while the case was committed for further examination.

They will appear again within eight days.