Customers were able to access features such as self-destructing messages, which deleted from the recipient's device after a certain amount of time. Roberts, 57, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin. The period just after 9/11 saw wrongful arrests skyrocket. Dooley, 35, of no fixed address but from St Helens, was jailed for nine years after admitting conspiring to supply Class A and B drugs. He was brought down by an investigation that led to police storming his home on Park Road North in Birkenhead, as well as two container units in the town, in June, when they seized a Rolex watch and 82,000 in cash. Talbot, Carlton and Ward all admitted conspiring to supply Class A drugs and possessing criminal property. Value for money and would buy again. The NCA and European partners shared data from the encrypted communication system EncroChat with the Met Police, which led them to make over 170 arrests and seize 13.4 million pounds in cash . The National Crime Agency (NCA) claims a total of 746 arrests and the seizure of two tonnes of drugs, 77 assorted firearms and 54m in cash - so far - as a result of the EncroChat intelligence. Jordan Talbot was exposed as EncroChat boss "LittleNev" - a leader of a plot involving "at least" 500kg of Class A drugs. READ MORE: EncroChat dealer 'RecoveryMan' boasts about the quality of his 'Charlie', Gavin Jones, 42, of Houlgrove Road, Vauxhall was jailed for 14 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. Detectives identified the handprints of the 30-year-old, of Maud Street, Toxteth, on a photo he took showing him holding cannabis in his hand. The career criminal was executed by a masked cyclist while walking his dogs, after the gunman was alerted to his location by an EncroChat message. Marsh was linked to the distribution of 25 kilos of cocaine, 110 kilos of cannabis and one kilo of ketamine. Three suspects accused of being part of an organised crime gang have appeared in court after police penetrated the secret messaging site EncroChat in Britain's biggest-ever crime bust.. EncroChat drug dealer Anthony Lenehan was the man behind the codename 'JetHawk'. Investigators were able to access his contacts via an Encrochat phone. EncroChat conversations between Simon Roberts, who used the names 'MajorFox' and 'FanaticFirm' and other members of the conspiracy revealed that on one occasion he was entrusted with 8kg of cocaine and 485,000 in cash. READ MORE: Taxi driver's secret life as 'NuttyLeopard' EncroChat drug dealer. We'd love to hear from you. Laite admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis. Harrison Laite used an Encrochat phone to supply multiple kilos of cannabis on the streets on Merseyside. Last month the CEO of a drug trafficking organisation known by his underworld alias Piet Costa, was jailed for 17 years for drug importation, money laundering and setting up torture chambers inside shipping containers found by Dutch police in July 2020. Begin . Brian Marshall, 46, of Robson Street, Everton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A Drugs cocaine, and was sentenced to 10 years. dailyrecord Load mobile navigation News READ MORE: 'Milliondolla' EncroChat user said he had cocaine 'coming out me ears'. Steven Nicholls, 41, of Ibbotson Lane, Aigburth, was sentenced to 16 years and eight months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit arsons with intent, conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply heroin, and transferring criminal property. Cops Investigating 'WhatsApp for Gangsters' Arrest Key Suspect in Caribbean. EncroChat messages showed 10 weeks of multi kilo trading between April 1 and June 13, 2020 but notes on Talbot and DampHedge's EncroChat devices showed the "full scale" of the scheme, dating back . In March 2021 Motherboard published details from a cache of emails, Encrochat Lawyers Say Clients Haven't Had Fair Trials, The Network: How a Secretive Phone Company Helped the Crime World Go Dark, charged with conspiracy to murder and cocaine trafficking, have not received fair trials due to the intense secrecy. Eight men aged between 21-47 and a 26-year-old woman. Last month two EncroChat users were given life terms in May after being convicted of plotting a murder on the network, while James Harding, a Dubai-based British man alleged to be the head of on an international crime network, was charged with conspiracy to murder and cocaine trafficking. READ MORE: 'Bro we be multimillionaires in three months haha' boasted dealer. British authorities have arrested 746 suspects, seized tens of millions in cash, dozens of firearms and high-value cars, 2 tonnes of drugs, and even grenades in the country's "biggest ever law enforcement operation". French investigators managed to access Encrochat, an encrypted platform . Daniel Wilson, 33, of Silverbeech Road, Wallasey, was sentenced to seven years and eight months after pleading guilty to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis and conspiracy to convert criminal property in relation to the proceeds of his crimes. After French and Dutch police broke into EncroChat, British police were permitted to use their findings, meaning UK police forces were then able to kick down doors and make arrests. Cocaine dealer William Skillen was linked to a sinister drug gang who threatened to "chop off ears" and batter an OAP in a 500,000 robbery plot. Lenehan, of Scarisbrick Road in Walton, but who lived in Dubai until recently, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and making a false statement to gain a passport. NCA director of investigations Nikki Holland said: "This is the biggest and the most significant law enforcement operation of its kind in the UK and it is previously unmatched in terms of its scale.". But it was EncroChat messages, recovered in April 2020, which gave officers the additional evidence to blow the lid on the network. The 34-year-old, who also interchanged the spelling of his surname to "Badibango", was detained by detectives after a series of raids in Formby and another in Whiston, which led to him being taken into custody. But detectives swooped on the cocaine, heroin and cannabis dealer as he tried to cross the channel at Folkestone in Kent, on July 20, 2020. Encrochat users don't use their real names, but false names, known as "handles". His Encrochat handle was Sacredmask. Using a non-work phone or computer, you can contact Joseph Cox securely on Signal on+44 20 8133 5190, Wickr on josephcox, or emailjoseph.cox@vice.com. To get a behind the scenes look at how they work and the moments that don't make our stories, subscribe to our free weekly Echo Court Files newsletter, written by court reporter Neil Docking. The huge operation has been taking place over the past three months with police seizing 13m of cash in London alone. In one container, they also discovered police clothing and bulletproof vests. As part of Operation Venetic, the UK law enforcement crackdown on EncroChat users, Derrane was arrested in his van in the Tingley area of Leeds on April 22 2020. 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Isaac Rasmussen, 28, from Heath Road Widnes, previously from the Huyton area was sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiring to fraudulently evade prohibition on the import of Class A drugs and conspiring to fraudulently evade a prohibition on the import of Class B drugs. Image purporting to show drugs seized by police in a series of raids in SE London, Kent and Sussex yesterday (September 22). Following today's guilty verdict, he will be sentenced on 4 January 2022 at . Not so that of 14-year-old Mohammed Al-Gharani, nabbed in Pakistan. His Encrochat handle was ToffeeForce and he was identified after sharing an image on his Encro device of a block of cheese in the palm of his hand, from which his fingerprints were analysed. Officers searched his home in St Ambrose Close, Anfield and found an EncroChat phone box, containing the password to the device, written on a piece of paper. Liam Garvey, 28, was arrested at his home on The Boulevard, Thatto Heath, St Helens on May 13 this year as part of the police operation targeting criminals who used the encrypted network. Police also found a building in Rotterdam, which they believe was another criminal base. The police have managed to establish the true identity of the users by analysing their individual messages and personal information. He was arrested in the Dominican Republic last month after police monitoring his movements realised he had become aware he was under surveillance and decided to act, according to the report. READ MORE: EncroChat dealers 'Laughingstorm', 'Kindtailor' and 'Wiredfork' see empires crumble after hack. Police say many of the network's customers used the service to plot illicit schemes linked to drug dealing and, in some cases violence. Mr Horne described it as a "command and control . Hundreds of other EncroChat users have been arrested across Europe. Adam Dalby (Image: Essex Police) Golding was given 12 years in jail, while Thurgood was handed eight for being Golding right-hand man in the criminal network. Liam Garvey, 28, of The Boulevard, Thatto Heath, Kevin Allan was the 'money man' for a 1 million EncroChat cocaine conspiracy, Kevin Allan helped cocaine bosses keep track of their thousands of pounds by acting as a gangland banker, David Holgate, 49 and from Anfield, went by the EncroChat handle LoftyWizard and was sentenced to six years and eight months for drugs offences. Sometimes called the criminal's WhatsApp, it advertised its service as being 'the electronic equivalent of a conversation . He used an EncroChat phone to update the drug bosses on their income, dealing with hundreds of thousands of pounds at a time. The insight into his life allowed detectives to match the messages of EncroChat codenames "SneakyStem" and "WackySilver" to the 33-year-old. UK law enforcement has made a massive breakthrough in the fight against serious and organised crime after the takedown of a bespoke encrypted global communication service used exclusively by criminals. The Le Parisien report did not publish Paul Ks full name. READ MORE: Secret gang messages of SnowEmu, SacredMask and MancJoey that brought them down, Jordan Alvis, 35, of Trent Close, West Derby, was sentenced to nine years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply ketamine and heroin and conspiracy to conceal criminal property. Harding, who used the handle "MagicCider", sold heroin, cocaine and cannabis worth around 1.5million through the encrypted phone network. He also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis. READ MORE: EncroChat drug boss boasted he made 20K before 8pm. The Liverpool Echo sends newsletters on a wide range of topics - including our daily news bulletin, now going out three times a day. Major crime figures were among over 800 Europe-wide arrests after messages on EncroChat were intercepted and decoded. Earlier this month Paul Ks wife was also arrested, as were six other people suspected of being involved in the running of EncroChat, three in Spain and three in Dubai, the report adds. At the time, Motherboard did not name this EncroChat member due to the risk they faced being deeply involved in an encrypted phone company that ultimately led to the arrests of thousands of alleged organised criminals. You can also sign up to our court newsletter here and get a twice weekly roundup of court cases sent your email inbox for free. Michael Burns, 39, of Plymyard Avenue, Eastham, Wirral, was sentenced to 12 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The eight arrests are thought to be the first arrests of people involved in the setting up and running of EncroChat. From drug dealers caught through their love of cheese to major drugs operators who supported shooting plots, this is an overview of 60 of the cases the region had heard about so far. Try for 30 days ( free of charge) the DigitalBank Vault SuperEncryption System . READ MORE: Block of Stilton cheese led to the downfall of EncroChat drug dealer. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? They both pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply the three drugs. READ MORE: EncroChat drug boss caused his own downfall after his joke texts. Amphetamine is commonly nicknamed speed, whizz and Billy Whizz - the latter after the famous character in the children's comic. Dillon and Keating also admitted conspiracy to transfer a firearm.. Keating was jailed for 22 years and five months; Dillon for 18 years; and Garforth for 15 years. Baker was arrested on 22 April 2021. The 34-year-old kept his two EncroChat phones until March the following year, when police raided his house and exposed his multi-kilo cocaine business. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Hundreds of innocent people were detained alongside real terrorists. July 2, 2020. Some of the evidence has been obtained by French police, who have intercepted many messages on the encrypted EncroChat programme used by criminal networks across the continent in recent months after breaching its . READ MORE: EncroChat dealer bragged he'd use cocaine and heroin to fund house extension, 42. Photo credit: Reprieve. 11 October 2022 - French Criminal Division of the Court of Cassation provided a landmark ruling on evidence from hacked EncroChat. Hughes, 53, of Rock Lane, Widnes, was jailed for 10 and a half years after admitting conspiring to supply Class A and B drugs. The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) has made 746 arrests and dismantled dozens of organized crime groups after intercepting millions of encrypted text . Two of the suspects have also been detained for possession of weapons. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply each of the drugs and was jailed for 16 years. EncroChat - a network infiltrated by law enforcement to investigate organized crime in Europe; Ennetcom - a network seized by Dutch authorities, . It was used primarily by organized crime members to plan criminal activities. In another, they located pruning shears, scalpels and balaclavas. Both men admitted conspiring to supply Class A and Class B drugs. He has now been charged over firearms offences, and being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs . Strachan was convicted of a conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs. When contacted by VICE World News, Europol said it could not confirm the arrests because they are part of an ongoing operation, and expressed frustration that details of the arrests had been published in French media. A military-grade encrypted communication system called Encrochat, allegedly used by organised criminals trading in drugs and guns, was hacked by police and their partners. READ MORE: Underworld banker 'MessyZebra' 'flicked' 1m of dirty cash for drug bosses. Alexander Keating, 30, of Lunts Heath Road, Widnes. Encrochat: the top-secret network explained after the NCA helped hack phones of major crime figures and made arrests. The 29-year-old planned to move abroad as soon as his licence period for a past sentence for trafficking cocaine expired. David Blackburn - SuperBiking. O'Hare, 33, of Fairfield Avenue, Roby, transported drugs for Harding and supplied up to three kilos of Class A drugs and 10 kilos of cannabis. The BBC's Tom Symonds is shown how a customised Android phone with EncroChat installed works, Hundreds arrested as crime chat network cracked, Dutch police start true crime podcast to catch killer, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. Two EncroChat drug dealers conspired to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis across Merseyside. He was jailed for 12 years. H. undreds of suspected criminals have been arrested worldwide after being tricked into using an FBI encrypted messaging service. Peter Heron, 48, of Grosvenor Road in Wavertree. A gang who flooded Greater Manchester with cocaine, heroin, and cannabis are now behind bars - despite their extensive efforts to fool detectives who were wo. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The hacking of the network was compared to cracking the enigma code by Nikki Holland, then director of investigations at the NCA. A group of lawyers representing defendants in EncroChat related cases recently published an open letter in which they said their clients have not received fair trials due to the intense secrecy around how French military police carried out the technical operation against EncroChat. The 28-year-old, of Shayfield Road in Manchester, was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He used the Encrochat handles Scantbee and Sandferret. EncroChat drug dealer Sean Moore also sold Covid 19 testing kits as a sideline during lockdown. EncroChat was a Europe-based communications network and service provider that offered modified smartphones allowing encrypted communication among subscribers. Do you know anything else about Encrochat or its owners? Alan, formerly of Regency Park, Widnes, was sentenced to a further eight years for conspiracies to cause GBH with intent to both Liam Byrne Jnr and Liam Byrne Snr. READ MORE: EncroChat dealer nicknamed 'coastalsummer' tried to flee naked through window in raid, 31 David Pinnington - LoftyHail and 32. Mathew Badibanga used the EncroChat nickname "Bagbangboomboom" to make "vast profits" using the encrypted phone service. An unidentified source associated with EncroChat . The organised crime group based in St Helens traded almost 50kg of amphetamine, but also flogged cocaine across the UK. Law enforcement agencies around the world have increasingly targeted the creators and administrators of encrypted phone companies. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. However, according to a cache of emails previously obtained by VICEs Motherboard and information from a source who interacted with EncroChat this name likely refers to Paul Krusky, a Canadian tech expert who Motherboard has found was integral to the early development and running of EncroChat. Five of the men also conspired to commit a robbery in which they planned to tie up the victims at their home and cut off the ear of one of them. For more news and features about London directly to your inbox sign up to our newsletter here. Dozens of criminals embedded in Merseyside's underworld have been jailed after an international operation brought down EncroChat. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Jordan Hughes traded cocaine and heroin with crooks using names of Liverpool FC stars on EncroChat. James Duckworth, 42, of Langdale Close, Kirkby, was sentenced to 16-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. Geoff Green, the founder of legitimate encrypted phone company Myntex, previously described to Motherboard his interactions with Krusky and what appears to be the very early stages of EncroChat. Starting years ago in the Netherlands, Dutch police repeatedly arrested owners of firms that made PGP BlackBerrys, customised BlackBerry devices that had the ability to send encrypted emails. Then last year, U.S. authorities also charged Jean-Francois Eap, the CEO of the largest encrypted phone company called Sky Global, with similar offenses. It operated on customised Android phones and, according to its website, provided "worry-free secure communications". D.Wilkinson was handed a four years and eight sentence, while Aldred was jailed for two years and eight months. The court heard how Roberts' involvement in the supply of class A drugs, totalled 11kg of cocaine worth 385,000, and 3kg of heroin worth 54,000. North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) detectives launched an undercover surveillance operation in February 2020. 2023 BBC. He also pooled together with a group of other suppliers to source a mega-shipment of 100kg of cocaine through Hamburg in Germany. Nathan Loftus was involved in importing tens of kilos of heroin and cocaine from Holland into the country through Liverpool. Ricardo Hughes - NovaCoast and Christopher Dooley - OctoOx. Dentith, 29, of College View, Huyton, was sentenced to 17 years three months after pleading guilty to supply cocaine and ecstasy. Holgate admitted conspiring to supply ketamine, possessing criminal property and possessing amphetamine with intent to supply. He was jailed for eight years and 10 months. It will feature reports from Liverpool Crown Court and crime cases connected to Merseyside. Bradley Luxton - SoupHedge and MerrySword. More than two tonnes of drugs, several dozen guns and 54m in suspect cash . They found 26,710 in cash in a . Michael Devine had shared details of his membership on the EncroChat encrypted messaging platform. The data from EncroChat has been a real boon to law enforcementorganized crime arrests in Germany soared by 17 percent following the police busts, and at least 2,800 people have been arrested . Shaun Done, 25, of Beech Road, Huyton was sentenced to seven years, nine months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply cannabis and conspiracy to acquire/use/possess criminal property. In March 2021 Motherboard published details from a cache of emails that showed the shadowy corporate structure behind EncroChat. British law enforcement officials say they have made their biggest ever breakthrough against organised crime after hacking into an encrypted . George Marsh - SneakyStem and WackySilver. . Peter Heron was caught supplying cocaine and cannabis as part of the EncroChat hack. Photo: Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty Images. Anthony Lenehan, 57 and of Scarisbrick Road in Walton, was jailed for drugs and passport offences. The encrypted communications system was used by many high profile organised . Messages on EncroChat were said to link both men to the supply of multi-kilo amounts of the two Class A drugs and smaller amounts of Class B cannabis. To join and get updates, click here and you can also follow Neil's Facebook page here. Something went wrong, please try again later. Lenehan had connections to Dubai and exchanged messages suggesting his influence may have stretched to India and Iran. It is not clear what charges Paul Krusky faces in his role with EncroChat. By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. Following a police hack of the EncroChat network, officers were able to link the 45-year-old to the phone, on which he discussed smuggling hundreds of kilograms of cocaine on boats. Pinnington was jailed for nine years and four months. 3) Tick as many boxes as you like, for each newsletter you want. EncroChat dealer George Marsh 's international crime network was destroyed by personal messages he sent to his contacts. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? London crime: Ealing thug caught hiding a shotgun when police raided Southall home; Read More Related Articles Devine, of Pete Best Drive, West Derby, was jailed for 17 years and three months after admitting conspiracy to import cocaine and conspiracies to supply cocaine, heroin, amphetamines and ketamine. The Wirral crook - who had contacts in Portugal, Spain and Germany - shared details about his birthday and the dates of his father's death and funeral. The authorities seized over two tons of drugs, dozens of guns, and around 54m in cash. Townsend was convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis and acquire/use/possess criminal property. EncroChat dealer Nathan Harding was busted by police after sharing a photo of himself holding cannabis. The eight arrests are thought to be the first arrests of people involved in the setting up and running of EncroChat. It could affect hundreds of criminal investigations, prosecutions, and investigations in the UK. Jordan Talbot - LittleNev, James Ward - StableToast, and Jamie Carlton - StaleSloth. Their capture followed a raid at the home of Paul Dillon, 32, a few months earlier on Tuesday, June 30, when police seized almost 30,000 in cash. For reasons unknown he was then released. A judge said it was an "extremely grave offence" as he jailed Talbot for 21 years and nine months. Entire organised crime groups dismantled during Operation Venetic with 746 arrests, and 54m criminal cash, 77 firearms and over two tonnes of drugs seized so far. READ MORE: 'Bagbangboomboom' Encrochat dealer raided by police, 41. . READ MORE: Gun thugs and gangland brothers jailed for botched underworld shooting, Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here, Raids carried out as part of the EncroChat probe Operation Venetic.
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