A MEMBER of a Scots supergang has been jailed for life for the assassination of a Dutch underworld figure outside a sex club.

Christopher Hughes, 33, was with Martin Kok, 49, when he was shot and killed outside the Boccaccio Club in Laren, Holland on December 8, 2016.

He had alerted others to Mr Kok’s location and let them know when he was leaving the club.

Earlier the same day, Glasgow man Hughes had also sent word to others when the pair were leaving the Citizen M hotel in Amsterdam, when an attempt was made on Mr Kok’s life.

On Friday, Hughes was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 25 years at the High Court in Stirling for his involvement in the murder and in serious organised crime.

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Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

Productions of evidence used in the Crown case against Hughes. 

He was involved in an organised crime group with international reach for almost seven years, between July 1, 2013 and January, 7 2020.

This included the importation and supply of cocaine, firearms and ammunition, money laundering, and the setting up a company to supply encrypted communication devices to gangs throughout the world.

We previously reported that Hughes was a high ranking member of the feared crime clan which had worldwide connections including with Colombian drug cartels and the Italian mafia.

On the instructions of the mob, Hughes met Kok at an Amsterdam hotel then the Boccaccio sex club and alerted others to where he was.

As the pair later left - and Hughes patted a cat outside - double murderer Kok was gunned down as a "favour" for seemingly crossing Moroccan-based gangsters.

Hughes was quizzed by Dutch police the next day before being allowed to leave.

He remained at large in Europe as the international probe into the brothel shooting continued.

It was his apparent confession to a fellow gang member turned supergrass which lead to his downfall.

Hughes was caught at a hotel in Turin in Italy in January 2020 and hauled back to Scotland on a European Arrest Warrant.

The killing - despite happening abroad - was investigated as part of the huge Police Scotland probe Operation Escalade, which has already seen a string of gang members jailed for a total of more than 100 years.

The mob has been described as the “most sophisticated” encountered by the authorities.

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Laura Buchan, Procurator Fiscal for Specialist Casework, said: “Christopher Hughes was a key member of an organised crime gang for many years, facilitating criminal behaviour which culminated in the brutal murder of Martin Kok.

“The conviction of Hughes was truly a collaborative and international effort, and Copfs worked closely with colleagues in both Scotland and Holland to ensure Hughes answered for his actions. It is thanks to this great work with international justice colleagues that we were able to prosecute Hughes.

“In particular, Police Scotland carried out exceptional work on what was a complex and lengthy investigation.

“Organised crime does great harm to communities in Scotland and beyond and we will continue to work with partners in the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce to tackle these groups.”

Previously Police Scotland's Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Houston, head of  Organised Crime Unit, said: “It has been well-documented that Hughes is a dangerous individual with a long association with organised crime in Scotland and beyond.

"He has wreaked havoc in our communities by trading illegal drugs to our communities and being involved in the importation of firearms which undoubtedly would have been used to harm or kill others."