David McMillan, a 42-year-old man from Cardonald, Glasgow, who made millions from his involvement in serious organized crime, has agreed to settle a proceeds of crime action for just £2,665.
Despite having raked in over £7.5 million through criminal activities, McMillan will pay a significantly smaller sum as part of a confiscation order.
Details of the Crime and Investigation
Between March 2020 and July 2021, McMillan was part of a drug trafficking operation that supplied over a ton of cannabis and generated more than £2 million.
Alongside his accomplice, Craig Dineen, the duo was involved in trafficking drugs in Glasgow’s Pollok, Cardonald, and Pollokshields areas, as well as Renfrewshire.
The gang used encrypted messages on the Encrochat platform, which was later accessed by European law enforcement authorities.
This led to police launching Operation Juneberry to gather evidence against the group.
McMillan and his associates were under surveillance when they attempted to flee after police tried to stop their van.
McMillan even reversed at high speed, evading arrest for a time, before he was eventually apprehended.
The Confiscation Order and Court Decision
At trial, prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel presented evidence from the Encrochat messages, showing references to a staggering 2,425lbs of drugs and over £2 million in cash.
McMillan was sentenced to five years and three months in prison in 2023 for his role in the crime.
McMillan appeared in the High Court in Edinburgh again recently, where a settlement was reached in the proceeds of crime action.
It was confirmed that McMillan had benefitted from over £7.5 million in criminal conduct, but the court agreed that he would be required to pay only £2,665 as part of the confiscation order.
Future Possibilities for Further Payments
Although McMillan has settled this case for the agreed amount, prosecutors have warned that if he comes into more money, they could return to court seeking additional funds.
The judge, Lord Cubie, formally issued the confiscation order based on the agreed terms.
This case highlights the ongoing effort by authorities to recover funds from individuals involved in serious crime, though the large discrepancy between McMillan’s criminal profits and the final settlement has sparked some debate.