The reign of a “Street Valium Queen” who flooded Glasgow with illegal drugs while flaunting a life of luxury on social media has come to a crashing end. Jodie Gilmour, a 31-year-old from Possilpark, was sentenced today to four years in prison at the High Court in Dundee. Her empire, built on “scoobs” and cannabis, crumbled after detectives cracked her encrypted messages and intercepted a clumsy smuggling attempt from Las Vegas.
For years, Gilmour lived a life that seemed untouchable to her followers online. She posted videos showing off wads of cash, designer Louis Vuitton bags, and expensive cosmetic dentistry work. But behind the glitzy TikTok filters lay a dark reality of organised crime that preyed on one of Scotland’s most vulnerable communities.
Secret Life of ‘Scarabflicker’ Exposed
Detectives brought Gilmour down by peeling back the layers of her digital life. While she played the influencer on public social media, she operated in the shadows using the encrypted Encrochat network under the handle “scarabflicker.” This secret communication channel was meant to be impenetrable, but police hacking operations blew it wide open.
Prosecutors revealed a treasure trove of incriminating messages during the trial. In one exchange, Gilmour bragged about her ability to source massive quantities of Etizolam, known on the streets as “street Valium.” She discussed setting up a pill factory capable of churning out over one million tablets.
- The “Scoobs” Connection: In a telling text exchange, an associate told her, “U should have – ur the queen a scoobs,” cementing her status in the underworld.
- Cannabis Deals: She discussed trafficking cannabis at £5,300 per kilogram, stating she needed “a box a week min” to satisfy demand.
- Luxury Swaps: Evidence showed she once swapped a stolen watch valued at £35,000 for a shipment of 220,000 illicit pills.
Las Vegas Candle Scam Failed
Her operation began to unravel in June 2023 due to a package that raised suspicions at customs. Officials intercepted a parcel mailed from Las Vegas addressed to Gilmour. The manifest claimed the box contained innocent candles, but officers found something far more valuable inside.
The “candles” were actually a disguise for high-grade cannabis worth £2,200. This interception gave police the probable cause they needed to raid the home Gilmour shared with her mother, Shirley, in Possilpark. The raid exposed the undeniable link between her lifestyle and her crimes.
Inside the property, officers seized eight mobile phones and over £11,000 in cash. The search also uncovered the physical fruits of her drug empire. In the bedroom where Gilmour was sleeping, police found a Rolex watch worth £25,000 sitting on the bedside table.
Funding a £100,000 Makeover
Gilmour spent her dirty money as fast as she made it. Financial investigators found that over £500,000 had passed through her bank accounts over a three-year period. This was despite her claiming state benefits and her legitimate cleaning business declaring a profit of only £85,000.
The court heard that she blew nearly £100,000 on herself. She spent £20,000 on cosmetic procedures, including veneers to perfect her smile for her social media selfies. Another £20,000 went toward designer clothes to maintain her image as a successful businesswoman.
Gambling was another massive drain on her finances. Her defense lawyer claimed she had a severe gambling addiction, losing £28,000 in betting shops. They argued she was drawn into the world of organised crime primarily to fund this habit.
| Expenditure Item | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Cosmetic Procedures | £20,000 |
| Designer Clothing | £20,000 |
| Gambling Losses | £28,000 |
| Rolex Watch | £25,000 |
Judge Delivers Four Year Sentence
Lord Renucci did not accept the gambling addiction as an excuse for the scale of her operation. Sentencing her on what was her 32nd birthday, the judge highlighted the “significant and enduring” nature of her crimes. He noted that her involvement spanned three and a half years and contributed to the misery of drug addiction in Scotland.
The sentence marks a significant victory for police in North Glasgow. Gilmour had been on the radar of law enforcement for a decade. At just 22, she was already known in the area for her lavish spending. When locals previously accused her of dealing, she lashed out online, calling whistleblowers “fly grassing c****.”
Now, the woman who once felt untouchable will trade her designer outfits for a prison uniform. Her fall serves as a stark warning to others who think they can hide high-level drug dealing behind a screen of social media glamour.
In Possilpark, the impact of street Valium is a daily tragedy. Families lose loved ones to the cheap, potent blue pills every week. While Gilmour’s imprisonment won’t stop the drug trade entirely, it removes a major player who profited from the destruction of her own community.
