A Scottish cocaine baron who fled to Dubai years ago is reportedly working with some of the biggest cartels in the world, while gang violence he fuelled rips through Scotland
A Dubai-based drug boss, who is fuelling gang wars in Scotland, is allegedly working with some of the biggest cartels in the world to sell kilos of cocaine. Mr Big – who supposedly fled to Dubai from Scotland in 2021 after the National Crime Agency infiltrated the Encrochat he used to sell drugs – has reportedly continued his operations in the United Arab Emirates.
The Glasgow hood, whose drugs are still flooding “every area of Scotland” is said to be in business with several of the world’s most powerful criminal groups. The Glaswegian in Dubai has become close friends with brutal Moroccan-Dutch crime boss Ridouan Taghi, who is believed to have helped Mr Big get more criminal connections.
A source, talking to the Daily Record, said: “Mr Big has been selling kilos of cocaine like it is going out of fashion. He works with the biggest cartels in the world.
“People close to Taghi live here and he is friends with them, plus there are a lot of other Moroccans in Dubai that he is getting closer with and these guys have tentacles all across the world.” Taghi, 47, was described as “a well-oiled killing machine” when he was jailed for life over a campaign of murders and attempted murders.
Aside from Mr Big’s Moroccan connections, the Dubai-based gangster has also connected with South American cartels, according to the source. He was allegedly introduced to them by Scottish drug baron James ‘The Don’ White, who took over the crime empire of James and Barry Gillespie in 2019 when the brothers disappeared in Brazil.
White is currently serving a nine year and 10 month prison sentence after he was jailed in 2023. Crown lawyers estimate he made a staggering £126m from organised crime.
The source continued: “Mr Big’s connect in South America came through James White after he took over from the Gillespies. Now he has access to massive quantities of cocaine.”
Mr Big has been causing havoc in Scotland from his Dubai base in recent weeks as foot soldiers at home wage war on Edinburgh drugs baron Mark Richardson and his associates. A sting of buildings and businesses linked to the two drug bosses have been firebombed and shot at.
Mayhem was ignited when Richardson’s cronies allegedly stole £500,000 worth of cocaine from Mr Big by using fake cash to pay for the illegal goods. Although Richardson is currently locked up in prison, his associate Steven ‘Bonzo’ Daniel reportedly fled to Dubai this week after his home was attacked.
The source claimed Mr Big would not attack anybody in the UAE out of fear of deportation. The source said: “He won’t risk doing anything in the UAE incase he gets sent back to the UK. He has a warrant out for his arrest here and in Europe.” Mr Big allegedly fled to Marbella, Spain, at first but moved to Dubai due to the European arrest warrant.
A group called Tamo Junto is believed to carrying out the attacks in Scotland under Mr Big’s orders.
