El Shepo drugs gang sold cocaine and heroin from van in Glasgow

The head of a countrywide organised crime group, Ian Shepherd has been jailed for 25 years. Dubbed ‘El Shepo’, his gang operated in Glasgow and across the UK.

A drugs kingpin known as ‘El Shapo’ whose gang operated in Glasgow and across the UK has been jailed for 25 years.

As the head of a countrywide organised crime group, Ian Shepherd supplied cocaine and heroin ‘on a commercial scale’, Manchester Evening News reports.

The 44-year-old’s drug ring was based in Kirby, Merseyside but branched out across Britain.

Using surveillance, phone cell-siting and automated number plate recognition (ANPR) evidence, police tracked the gang’s activity between November 2018 and July 2019.

Andy Scott, prosecuting, told Manchester Crown Court that the group’s activity included ‘many significant meetings and exchanges’ in cities including Glasgow as well as Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Darlington, London and Salford Quays.

A safe house based in Kirkby was also identified.

The majority of the activity involved Shephard and John Burkquest, 37, a courier who was jailed in August last year for his involvement in the organised crime group.