A major Scottish gangland figure is set to face a "hidden assets" action aimed at seizing millions of pounds of illicit profits under a proceeds of crime action.
James "The Don" White could end up facing a longer prison sentence than the one he is currently serving if the Crown secure a court ruling in its favour and he fails to pay up.
White, 48, was jailed for nine years and 10 months in 2023 for directing others in a violent, international drug gang that had access to a fearsome collection of guns.
The judge who jailed White, Lord Colbeck, told him: "The offence to which you have pled guilty is one of the utmost seriousness, involving a degree of criminality seldom seen by the courts in Scotland."
White was a leading figure of the serious organised crime group run by brothers James and Barry Gillespie, from Rutherglen, in South Lanarkshire. Police have said they believe the brothers were killed while on the run in South America.
White, formerly of Gartcosh, in North Lanarkshire, was brought back from Brazil to face justice in Scotland after being held in custody in the South American country while awaiting extradition.
He admitted directing others involved in serious and organised crime between May 2013 and March 2023 in Scotland, England, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, France, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil in criminal actions, including the importation of cocaine and cannabis.
He also had under his control pistols, submachine guns, silencers and a fragmentation grenade for use in acts of violence. He also orchestrated a plan to locate and shoot Robert Allan who had been supplied with cocaine which belonged to the Gillespie brothers.
White was also involved in instructing others to conceal and transfer criminal property by hiding cash in vehicles and premises "in the interests of furthering organised crime".
Following his conviction the Crown brought a proceeds of crime action against White to seize illicit assets and it was asserted that he had benefited from crime in excess of pounds 126 million but it was claimed that he has less than pounds 200,000 in available assets to meet a confiscation order.
A two day hearing in the action was set down for September this year but the High Court in Edinburgh heard it was now considered a four day hearing should take place next year.
Advocate depute Bryan Heaney said: "This is an anxious case concerning Mr White who pled guilty to being a leader of one of Scotland's largest organised crime groups."
"Given what he pled guilty to he was given as long a sentence as the judge could manage under the statute."
Mr Heaney said: "The Crown would be looking for an order in this case to the tune of many millions of pounds."
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The court can determine whether there are hidden assets that should be taken into account when making a confiscation order against an individual.
Mr Heaney said that if such an order was made against White for pounds 10 million for example and he was to say he could not pay up he could face up to 14 years in prison
The judge, Lady Poole, agreed to fix a four day hearing to deal with the case.
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