Google MapsA former market trader turned “surveillance expert” hired by criminals worried they were being spied upon has had two years added to his prison sentence.
Ian Sweeney was recruited to try to keep gangland figures one step ahead of the law.
The 53-year-old, who had been the director of a private investigation firm, used the handle “bug-sweep” on the EncroChat phone network, which was once favoured by crime mobs.
He charged thousands of pounds to provide equipment and advice on how to sweep properties and cars for listening devices.
A judge heard how Sweeney was also the “middle man” in lucrative drug trafficking.
Ex-Barras market street trader Sweeney was back in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow to be sentenced.
He earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of being involved in serious organised crime between March and May 2020.
Sweeney is already serving a five-year jail term, having been convicted at the same court in 2023 for his role in a large-scale drug dealing operation.
Judge Lord Colbeck increased his current prison sentence by two more years, which will run consecutively to his present sentence.
He said: “You involved yourself in Class A and B drugs and did services for money to further serious organised crime.
“You do understand that the offence is a particularly serious one.
“There is no outcome other than a custodial sentence for public protection as well as to mark society’s disapproval of your offending behaviour.”
Prosecutor Margaret Barron said Sweeney “developed a reputation within criminal circles” for being able to obtain information on certain individuals, including tracing where they could be found.
He was regularly in touch with associates via EncroChat.
This included offering advice and providing “anti-surveillance measures” to avoid detection by the police.
He was also able to help adapt vehicles to construct “stash” areas, which gangsters often use to hide drugs or dirty money.
Ms Barron said: “He advised (an associate) that although he was based in Scotland, he travelled all over the UK to conduct his activities.
“The data showed Sweeney was specifically told the reason he was being asked to obtain information was for a criminal purpose.”
The court was given examples of some of his exchanges on EncroChat, which was busted by French and Dutch law authorities.
In one, he suggested a cost of £1,500 for a “bug sweep” of any house or office in a European country.
Sweeney stated he worked for a “professional counter-surveillance and intelligence company” and was employed “throughout the world” for banks and energy firms.
One associate – thought to be London-based – later got in touch stating he wanted two or three cars checked for “scanners and bugs asap”.
This individual said: “Pals found tracker on his motor.”
When shown a photo of the device, Sweeney replied, “It’s not coppers, mate. It’s a cheap eBay one.”
The associate added: “Yeah rats.”
Ms Barron said Sweeney was also involved in trafficking cocaine and cannabis throughout Scotland.
The advocate depute said: “He mainly sourced drugs from one (EncroChat) handle before supplying these to another.”
This included 5kg of cocaine. He was also in contact with another individual who was keen on moving a large consignment of cannabis.
Thomas Ross KC, defending, told the hearing Sweeney had a long-held interest in “technology” and was “entirely self-taught”.
This involved him initially carrying out legitimate work, but eventually, “word spread” that his skills could be used by criminals.
The advocate added: “The offences he is most ashamed of is his involvement in drugs.”
Mr Ross said Sweeney had never handled any narcotics and had been a “middle man…being paid commission”.
Sweeney was jailed in March 2023, having teamed up with drugs boss James Paterson.
He helped Paterson, 35, track down someone who owed him money.
Sweeney also passed on orders to another individual as part of Paterson’s massive drug trafficking operation.
Like the latest offence, Sweeney was convicted of being involved in serious organised crime.
Paterson was jailed for 14 years for crimes including class A drug dealing and money laundering.
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