Two businessmen who sponsored Motherwell FC in the Scottish Premiership ran a £12 million cocaine operation that funded their extravagant lifestyles, complete with Lamborghinis and Rolex watches flaunted on social media.

David Stephen and Shaun Brown, both 30 and from Hamilton, Lanarkshire, co-owned DX Home Improvements, whose logo graced Motherwell FC strips. They orchestrated the purchase and sale of 125kg of cocaine over four months, directing associates in the illicit trade.

The Drug Operation

Their activities spanned March to June 2020 and resumed from August 18 to December 23, 2025. Using the EncroChat network, Stephen operated as “narrowninja,” while Brown used “simplebull” and “castlenut.” They exchanged nearly 12,000 messages with 26 contacts, coordinating purchase, collection, delivery, adulteration, storage, and sale of the Class A drug, plus money collection.

Prosecutor Alexandria Kirk stated the pair trafficked up to 5kg initially, cutting it to boost profits to £600,000. They maintained detailed ledgers of transactions. Stephen bought a banknote counter and cash detector from Amazon on March 26, 2020, sharing photos of stacked cash and cocaine blocks with associates.

Lavish Lifestyles and Legitimate Business

Despite the crimes, they served as managing directors of their Lanarkshire home improvements firm, which also sponsored a family race night at Hamilton Park. Neither the club nor the race organizers knew of the criminal ties. Social media posts revealed their opulence: luxury goods, high-end cars, and first-class flights. One image showed Stephen wearing a Rolex, another captioned “Matching Lambos with my brother. Dreams come true.”

Arrest and Evidence

Police arrested the pair days before Christmas 2025 after Stephen flew first-class from Dubai’s Tilal Al Ghaf resort to Scotland. Driving his £200,000 Lamborghini Urus with Brown aboard, they stopped at a Cambuslang petrol station. Officers seized six phones, including Stephen’s iPhone with encrypted apps linking them to a group chat evidencing the 125kg operation, valued at £11.25 million on the street.

Later messages indicated struggles paying suppliers, yet their lavish spending continued.

Court Sentencing

At the High Court in Glasgow, both pleaded guilty to directing serious offenses. Lord Cubie sentenced each to six years and eight months, stating: “You both showed the trappings of wealth. The purchase, distribution and sale of cocaine gives rise to misery, poverty and death. This was coercive and your motivations were selfish.”

The judge added to Stephen: “You were successful beyond drug money and it is a pity you didn’t focus on this success in 2020.” To Brown: “You said that you were put off alcohol due to its impact, yet it didn’t stop you from peddling another form of addictive substance. The public’s interest is high in suppressing the criminal activity you were involved in.”

Defense Arguments

Thomas Ross KC, for Stephen, noted no violence or firearms, mentioning early debt as context but full responsibility accepted. Brian McConnachie KC, for Brown, explained the business launched in July 2020 with drug funds but later developed independently before financial woes prompted a return to crime.