Gangster behind scheme to import cocaine worth £1m into Scotland hidden in dog food

A gangster, once described as being among the UK’s most wanted, directed the importation of more than £1m of cocaine in Scotland, hidden in dog food.

William Byrne, 41, was the brains behind a June 2020 scheme which aimed to bring large quantities of the class A drug into the country.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard on Wednesday how Byrne liaised with criminals based in the Netherlands to obtain large quantities of the drug.

Byrne, who was arrested and extradited from Portugal after spending five years avoiding arrest, wanted to sell the cocaine to Scottish users.

He directed lorry driver John Neilson – who is currently serving a prison sentence for his role in the scheme – to take possession of the drug once it arrived in Britain and deliver it to his firm in Bathgate, West Lothian.

However, detectives from Police Scotland and elite investigators from the National Crime Agency pounced on Neilson as he delivered the drugs to Byrne’s firm, RMB Services.

Officers who conducted the June 22 raid found 26 bags of dog food, which weighed approximately 20 kilos, in the back of the van.

A total of 15 kilos of cocaine were found in the dog food.

The police then discovered that another 13 kilos of cocaine hidden in the dog food was set to be delivered and was being stored at a firm in England. The police then found another 13 kilos of cocaine.

Prosecutor David Dickson KC told the court that the cocaine found in the lorry had a maximum street value of £600,000. The cocaine recovered from the firm had a total street value of £1.625m.

Mr Dickson added: “The cosignor of both pallets was a company called Nature’s Best Dog Food based in Olst in the Netherlands.

“Examination of the accused’s communications devices demonstrates that on June 12, 2020, he was advised by other members of the Organised Crime Group that the pallets with the cocaine had arrived in the UK.

“Neilson indicated that the eagle has landed.

“Examination of the devices demonstrated that the accused Byrne directed Neilson in the delivery of cocaine into the United Kingdom from the Netherlands and its onward delivery to Byrne’s yard in Bathgate.

“The accused Byrne contacted a person in the Netherlands and arranged for payment of the cocaine to be made.

“Thereafter, he remained in contact with Neilson, who kept Byrne updated on the delivery of the pallets into the UK.”

Byrne, originally of Wemyss Bay, Inverclyde, pleaded guilty to a charge under section 30 (1) A of the Criminal Justice Licensing Scotland Act 2010 – the legislation criminalises directing serious organised crime.

The charge stated that he did this by using a “telecommunications device” and he did “instruct and direct” Neilson to take possession of, transport and supply of cocaine all for Byrne’s “financial gain”.

Mr Dickson told Lord Duthie Byrne was previously handed four and a half years in November 2010 for being involved in supplying drugs.

Following the June 2020 raid, Byrne avoided arrest and left the country.

In October 2025, police in Portugal arrested him in the town of Boliqueime near Albufeira on an international arrest warrant.

In Neilson’s case, the court heard how the then 44-year-old was held after a raid.

He was told to collect the shipment by Byrne, which had just arrived from the Netherlands.

Neilson – a £60,000-a-year offshore scaffolder – was jailed for seven and a half years after he pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

The offence was aggravated by a connection to serious organised crime.

The court heard how on June 18 last year, Neilson was put under surveillance during a probe into a crime gang.

The next day, police got a tip-off that bags of dog food containing “illegal substances” would be delivered to a garage in Bathgate.

On June 22, a single pallet holding a number of white bags was unloaded there.

Detectives swooped, arresting Neilson and three other individuals.

Neilson’s hired vehicle was checked, and 26 of what appeared to be bags of dog food were discovered in the back.

Prosecutor Margaret Barron told the court that telephone records also showed Neilson had been in contact with another individual earlier on June 12 about a delivery of 20kg of cocaine.

Ms Barron said: “A message sent by Neilson [that day] stated ‘the eagle has landed’, indicating that the consignment had arrived.”

The court heard there was “support” to the “inference” that Neilson had previously received a consignment of drugs.

Drew McKenzie, defending, said Neilson had not been able to return to work offshore as a result of the lockdown before getting involved in crime.

Lord Sandison reduced the jail-term from ten years due to the guilty plea.

Lord Duthie continued the case to a hearing which will take place at the High Court in Edinburgh on May 5, 2026. He also ordered a report to be prepared into Byrne’s background.

He added: “The accused will be remanded in custody meantime.’