Market trader advised crime gangs on evading surveillance

Sweeney was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow

A former trader from Glasgow's famous Barras market who helped criminal gangs evade electronic surveillance has been given a two-year jail sentence.

Ian Sweeney, 53, charged thousands of pounds to provide equipment and advice on how to sweep properties and cars for listening or tracking devices.

The High Court in Glasgow also heard how Sweeney, from North Lanarkshire, contacted associates on the encyrpted EncroChat phone network and installed "stash" areas in cars for secretly transporting drugs.

Sweeney will have the jail term added to a five-year sentence he is currently serving, having been convicted in 2023 for his role in a large-scale drug dealing operation.

Sweeney had pleaded guilty in March to involvement with organised crime.

His role was uncovered when police found his username on the EncroChat messaging platform and his interactions with over 100 associates.

Prosecutor Margaret Barron told how Sweeney "developed a reputation within criminal circles" of being able to get information on certain individuals, including tracing where they could be found.

He was regularly in contact with associates using the EncroChat network, offering "anti-surveillance measures" to avoid detection by police.

In some discussions, he claimed that, although he was based in Scotland, he travelled all over the UK providing recommendations on anti-surveillance.

The court heard examples of some of the exchanges he had on EncroChat which were uncovered by French and Dutch law enforcement authorities.

In one, he suggested his fee for a "bug sweep" of any house or office in a European country would be £1,500.

Presiding Judge Lord Colbeck told Sweeney his offence was "a particularly serious one" which merited a custodial sentence.

'Middle man'

Sweeney said he had worked for a "professional counter surveillance and intelligence company" employed "throughout the world" for banks and energy firms which dissolved in 2018.

Thomas Ross KC, defending, said he had a long-held interest in "technology" and was "entirely self-taught".

This had involved him initially carrying out legitimate work, but eventually "word spread" how his skills could be used by criminals.

Mr Ross said Sweeney had never handled any narcotics and had been a "middle man, being paid commission".

The court heard how Sweeney used EncroChat to source drugs from one contact before supplying them to another, including 5kg of cocaine.

He was also in contact with another individual, who was keen on moving a large consignment of cannabis.

Mr Ross said his client was ashamed of his involvement in drugs.

Sineidin Corrins, from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said the sentence sent a "strong message" to others of the ability of police and prosecutors to take on organised crime.