Glasgow man Stephen Jamieson is in prison after being sentenced to six years at the High Court in Glasgow on 30 April 2026 for directing a serious organised crime network that supplied cocaine, heroin and millions of etizolam pills across the UK in 2020 — a case cracked by EncroChat intelligence and concluded only after his extradition from Dubai.
Who Is Stephen Jamieson?
Stephen Jamieson, 43, is a Glasgow man who operated at a senior level within a serious organised crime network. While directing a multi-million-pound drug supply operation from 2020, he simultaneously spent the proceeds on luxury goods and travel, including a £146,000 Jeep and extensive trips to Dubai. He is described by prosecutors as a “key” player in the criminal enterprise, responsible for coordinating the supply of class A and class C drugs at wholesale quantities across the United Kingdom.
After the criminal investigation intensified following the takedown of the EncroChat network in 2020, Jamieson relocated to Dubai, where he remained at large for several years before international law enforcement caught up with him.
What Was the Drug Operation?
Between March and May 2020 — a 54-day window — Jamieson directed the supply of three controlled substances: cocaine, heroin (diamorphine) and etizolam, a powerful benzodiazepine-type sedative that is widely misused in Scotland and has been linked to numerous overdose deaths. The scale of the operation was significant: in a single transaction on 28 March 2020, Jamieson offered five million etizolam pills for sale on EncroChat. He also arranged the collection and distribution of cocaine and heroin through intermediaries.
Prosecutors told the court that his criminal activity caused serious harm to communities and contributed to a network of drug distribution that stretched across Scotland and the rest of the UK. The proceeds of the operation were laundered through luxury purchases and overseas travel.
How Did He Use EncroChat?
Jamieson conducted his criminal business using the EncroChat platform under the username “patrolstaff.” EncroChat was an encrypted communications network used by tens of thousands of organised criminals across Europe who believed it was impenetrable by law enforcement. In June 2020, French and Dutch authorities — working with Europol and Eurojust — covertly infiltrated the EncroChat network and extracted millions of messages before its operators became aware of the breach and shut it down.
The intelligence gathered from EncroChat led to hundreds of arrests and prosecutions in the United Kingdom alone, with the Jamieson case being one of the most recent to reach its conclusion. The messages exchanged under his “patrolstaff” handle provided prosecutors with direct evidence of his role directing others to commit serious organised crime and the volumes of drugs involved.
The Dubai Connection and Extradition
After his offending period in 2020, Jamieson relocated to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, apparently to place himself beyond the immediate reach of Scottish law enforcement. He spent years there as the prosecution case was built using EncroChat data. In July 2025, international law enforcement officers arrested Jamieson in Dubai as part of a co-ordinated cross-border operation. He was then extradited to the United Kingdom and arrested on arrival at Glasgow Airport on 18 December 2025.
His extradition marked a significant development in the case, demonstrating that UK authorities and their international partners are prepared to pursue fugitives residing in countries with which extradition arrangements can be made or negotiated, including the UAE.
His Sentence and Consequences
On 30 April 2026, Stephen Jamieson pleaded guilty to the charges at the High Court in Glasgow and was sentenced to six years in prison. In addition to the custodial term, the court imposed a four-year Serious Crime Prevention Order, which will place restrictions on his activities, associations and finances following his release. He also faces confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act brought by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), which will seek to recover the financial gains made through his criminality, including the value of assets purchased with drug money.
For more information about how the Parole Board considers release decisions for prisoners serving sentences for serious organised crime, see our guide to the UK Parole Board. If you have a family member affected by a custodial sentence, you can also find information on how to send money to a prisoner through approved channels, or how to book a prison visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Stephen Jamieson in prison?
Stephen Jamieson is in prison because he directed a serious organised crime operation that supplied cocaine, heroin and etizolam across the UK in 2020. He was sentenced to six years at the High Court in Glasgow on 30 April 2026 after being extradited from Dubai.
What drugs did Stephen Jamieson supply?
Stephen Jamieson admitted supplying cocaine, heroin and etizolam. In one transaction he offered five million etizolam pills for sale. The offences took place over a 54-day period between March and May 2020 using the EncroChat encrypted network.
How was Stephen Jamieson caught?
Stephen Jamieson was identified through EncroChat evidence after European law enforcement agencies covertly infiltrated the encrypted network in 2020. He subsequently fled to Dubai but was arrested there in July 2025 and extradited to Scotland, arriving at Glasgow Airport in December 2025.
What is EncroChat?
EncroChat was an encrypted phone network used by organised criminals to communicate securely. It was covertly infiltrated by French and Dutch law enforcement agencies working with Europol in 2020, leading to hundreds of arrests and convictions across the UK and Europe based on the messages recovered.
How long is Stephen Jamieson serving in prison?
Stephen Jamieson was sentenced to six years in prison. He will also be subject to a four-year Serious Crime Prevention Order after his release and faces proceeds of crime confiscation proceedings brought by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
