Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Lanarkshire Live

Ex-soldier who survived horrific helicopter crash facing jail over heroin haul

An ex-soldier who survived a helicopter crash is facing jail after being caught with a £1m heroin haul.

Gary Cowan, 32, was stopped on the M74 near Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, in June 2020.

He was behind the wheel of a van belonging to garage boss John Craig, 31, who police had been watching.

Both are now behind bars after each was convicted yesterday of being concerned in the supply of heroin following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Ex-Royal Regiment of Scotland squaddie Cowan survived an Army helicopter accident in Catterick, Yorkshire, in 2007.

It ended his military career and he was left needing multiple operations.

Ex Squaddie Gary Cowan from Paisley (Mike Gibbons)

Jurors heard how the 8kg high-purity drug haul could fetch in “excess” of £1million.

Cowan, of Paisley, and Craig, of Toryglen, Glasgow, had denied knowing about the illegal consignment.

Cowan claimed he had been asked to drive to Liverpool to collect car parts by Porsche-driving Craig, who runs a garage
in Airdrie.

Co- accused John Craig (Mike Gibbons)

He said he met a man in Merseyside and left him for 10 or 15 minutes with the van.

On his return trip to Scotland, police swooped on Cowan on the M74 and found the drugs in the van.

Craig insisted Cowan had asked for a loan of his works van and claimed to only become aware of any issue when Cowan failed to return with the vehicle.

Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.