Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

Liverpool Echo

National

Joe Thomas & Patrick Edrich

73 faces and codenames of dozens of EncroChat criminals linked to Merseyside

EncroChat Merseyside Police Police Merseyside Cocaine Heroin Daniel Wilson James Duckworth Michael Townsend David Williams

Dozens of Merseyside's most hardened criminals have been jailed in recent years after an international operation brought down the EncroChat network.

Police said many of the network's customers used the service to plot illicit schemes linked to drug dealing and, in some cases, violence. Operation Venetic was a British national response initiated by the National Crime Agency (NCA). And as a result of the network infiltration, UK police were able to swoop in and arrested hundreds of individuals linked to illicit activity.

Since the launch of the operation, over one thousand people have been charged with crimes due to their link to the EncroChat network. Tonnes of drugs, scores of weapons and millions of pounds in cash have also been seized.

Liverpool Crown Court has heard dozens of cases where the network's users crimes were undone by their EncroChat connections. From drug dealers caught through their love of cheese to major drugs operators who supported shooting plots, this is an overview of -- cases the region has heard so far.

1. Adam Lonergan - SickMallet

Adam Lonergan, 30 at the time, of Rydal Avenue in Prescot, was sentenced to 11 years and eight months for conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis between March 29 and June 5 and possession with intent to supply amphetamine.

His Encrochat handle was SickMallet.

2. Anthony Connolly - OrdinaryDingo

Anthony Connolly, 29 at the time, of Ellerman Road, Liverpool, was sentenced to 14 years and six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin, conspiracy to supply cannabis, and conspiracy to possess/convert/acquire criminal property.

His Encrochat handle was OrdinaryDingo.

3. Brian Marshall

Brian Marshall, 46 at the time, of Robson Street, Everton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A Drugs – cocaine, and was sentenced to 10 years.

4. Carl Stewart - ToffeeForce

Carl Stewart, 39 at the time, of Gem Street, Liverpool was sentenced to 13 years and six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, MDMA, ketamine and transferring criminal property.

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.

5. Christopher Dentith - KindTailor

Dentith, 29 at the time, of College View, Huyton, was sentenced to 17 years three months after pleading guilty to supply cocaine and ecstasy.

His Encrochat handle was KindTailor.

6. Christopher Perryman - NuttyDingo

Christopher Perryman (Merseyside Police)

Christopher Perryman, 39 at the time, of Gloucester Road, Huyton, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine.

His Encrochat handle was NuttyDingo.

7. Daniel Wilson - NormalAir

Daniel Wilson, 33 at the time, 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.

He also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis. His EncroChat handle was NormalAir.

8. David Williams - LovelyGiant

David Williams, 39 at the time, of Limekiln Lane, Vauxhall, was jailed for 13-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine.

His EncroChat handle was LovelyGiant.

9. Dean Deary - RecoveryMan

Dean Deary, 39 at the time, of Pinehurst Avenue, Anfield, was sentenced to 12 years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, ketamine and cannabis.

His EncroChat handle was RecoveryMan.

10. Gavin Jones - SatinTown

Gavin Jones, 42 at the time, of Houlgrove Road, Vauxhall was jailed for 14 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine

He used the Encrochat handle Satintown.

11. Isaac Rasmussen - IntimateMode

Isaac Rasmussen, 28 at the time, 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.

His EncroChat handle was IntimateMode.

12. Jack Stanley Jones - FeralWhale

Jack Stanley Jones, 27 at the time, of Hey Park in Huyton, was sentenced to 16-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, MDMA, cannabis and methamphetamine.

He also pleaded guilty to importation of Class A and B controlled drugs into UK, conspiracy to produce cannabis, conspiracy to convert criminal property for playing a leading role in drug importation, which saw police seize 18kg of cocaine concealed in children's Duplo boxes of Lego.

His EncroChat handle was FeralWhale.

13. James Duckworth - AtomaticMantis

James Duckworth, 42 at the time, of Langdale Close, Kirkby, was sentenced to 16-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine.

His Encrochat handle was AtomicMantis and he was the first to be convicted on Merseyside as part of Operation Venetic.

14. Jordan Alvis - LaughingStorm

Jordan Alvis, 35 at the time, 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.

His EncroChat handle was LaughingStorm.

15. Jordan Hughes - SnowEmu

Jordan Hughes, 30 at the time, of Huyton, was sentenced to 12 years after pleading guilty to conspiring to supplying multi-kilos of heroin and cocaine.

His EncroChat handle was SnowEmu.

16. Jordan Quinn - WiredFork

Jordan Quinn, 31, at the time of Valiant Close, West Derby, was sentenced to 14 years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and ketamine and possession of criminal property.

Quinn used the EncroChat handle WiredFork.

17. Liam Hughes - BleakMoth

Liam Hughes, 24 at the time, of Robson Street, Everton, was sentenced to 14 years and six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A Drugs (cocaine and heroin); conspiracy to supply Class B drugs (cannabis and conspiracy to possess/convert/acquire criminal property.

His EncroChat handle was BleakMoth.

18. Mark Dumbell - BullMouth

Mark Dumbell, 30 at the time, of Warrington Road, Prescot, was sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, cannabis and ketamine.

His Encrochat handle was Bullmouth.

19. Michael Burns - MillionDolla

Michael Burns, 39 at the time, of Plymyard Avenue, Eastham, Wirral, was sentenced to 12 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs.

His EncroChat handle was MillionDolla.

20. Michael Townsend - SacredMask

Michael Townsend,26 at the time, of Grant Road, Huyton was sentenced to six years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, February 9. Townsend was convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis and acquire/use/possess criminal property.

His EncroChat handle was SacredMask.

21. Philip Dearden - LoyalAnimal

Philip Dearden, 31 at the time, of Kent Road, St Helens, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis.

He used the Encrochat handle LoyalAnimal.

22. Ryan Mulcahy - BassBelt

Ryan Mulcahy, 29 at the time, of Maregreen Road, Everton, was sentenced to six years and six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess/convert/acquire criminal property.

His EncroChat handle was BassBelt.

23. Samuel Lewis - KeySilver

Sam Lewis, 30 at the time, of Mardale Road, Huyton, was sentenced to 12 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, ketamine and cannabis between March 20 and June 3 last year..

His Encrochat handle was Keysilver.

24. Shaun Done - NuttyLeopard

Shaun Done, 25 at the time, 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.

His Encrochat handle was NuttyLeopard.

25. Shaun Harrison - SandFerret

Shaun Harrison, 33 at the time, of South Street, Thatto Heath, was sentenced to 10 years eight months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis.

He used the Encrochat handles Scantbee and Sandferret.

26. Stephen Taylor - VileCrusher

Stephen Taylor, 33 at the time, of Norlands Park, Widnes, was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court for 12 years eight months for conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs and conspiracy to conceal criminal property.

His EncroChat handle was VileCrusher.

27. Steven Nicholls - CubRing

Steven Nicholls, 41 at the time, 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.

His EncroChat handle was CubRing.

28. Steven Strachan - FastSilver

Steven Strachan, 49 at the time, of School Lane, Bidston, was sentenced to six years in prisoners. Strachan was convicted of a conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs.

His EncroChat name was Fastsilver.

29. Thomas Brabbins - CoastalSummer

Thomas Brabbins, 28, of Cherry Tree Road, Huyton (Merseyside Police)

Thomas Brabbins, 28 at the time, of Cherry Tree Road, Huyton, was sentenced to seven years six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply cannabis, possession of cannabis with intent to supply and two counts of possession of criminal property and possession of cannabis.

His EncroChat name was CoastalSummer.

30-31 David Pinnington - LoftyHail and David Blackburn - SuperBiking

David Pinnington, 39, (left), and David Blackburn, 29, (right), were jailed for their part in the drugs conspiracy (Merseyside Police)

Two EncroChat drug dealers conspired to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis across Merseyside. David Pinnington, 39 at the time, was arrested at his home in Rushey Hey Road, Kirkby after being identified as the user of the "LoftyHail" handle on the secret phone network. On the same day, David Blackburn, then 29, was arrested at his home in Springvale Close, Kirkby after detectives linked him to a handle titled "SuperBiking".

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. They both pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply the three drugs. Pinnington was jailed for nine years and four months. Blackburn was jailed for 11 years.

Their EncroChat names were LoftyHail and SuperBiking.

32. Kevin Daniels - ExoticApe

Kevin Daniels handled £1.5m of dirty cash for a drug boss who used the name of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker on EncroChat. The identity of the crook who has adopted the name of the Reds' Brazilian shot stopper on the secret phone network remains a mystery.

But then 40-year-old Woolton roofer Daniels worked as a drug and cash courier for him, under the handle "ExoticApe", in 2020. He delivered at least 44 kilos of cocaine and stored hundreds of thousands of pounds of cash in his family home in Linkside Road. Daniels, who was arrested in November, admitted conspiracies to supply cocaine and convert criminal property. He was jailed for 10 years and eight months.

His EncroChat name was ExoticApe.

33. Harrison Laite - LoadedSun

Harrison Laite, 25, of Moss Way, Croxteth (Merseyside Police)

Harrison Laite used an Encrochat phone to supply multiple kilos of cannabis on the streets on Merseyside. The then 25-year-old, of Moss Way, Croxteth, sent text messages under the handle "LoadedSun" discussing the sale of £136,000 of cannabis.

He was arrested in April at Stansted Airport as he returned from Spain, where he had stayed for a few weeks. Laite admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis. He was jailed for four years.

His EncroChat name was LoadedSun.

34. Nathan Harding - MagicCider and LesserHedge and 36. Craig O'Hare - also MagicCider

Nathan Harding, 30, of Maud Street, Toxteth (Merseyside Police)

EncroChat dealer Nathan Harding was busted by police after sharing a photo of himself holding cannabis. Harding, who used the handle "MagicCider", sold heroin, cocaine and cannabis worth around £1.5million through the encrypted phone network.

Detectives identified the handprints of the then 30-year-old, of Maud Street, Toxteth, on a photo he took showing him holding cannabis in his hand. He used the MagicCider handle between April to May 2020, before it was passed over to another dealer, his drug courier Craig O'Hare. Harding then used a new handle called "LesserHedge", to continue carrying out his criminal activity.

Craig O’Hare, 33, of Fairfield Avenue, Roby (Merseyside Police)

Texts showed he discussed the sale of cocaine and heroin with an estimated wholesale value of £521,000, plus 193 kilos of cannabis, worth around £1m. O'Hare, 33 at the time, of Fairfield Avenue, Roby, transported drugs for Harding and supplied up to three kilos of Class A drugs and 10 kilos of cannabis.

Both men admitted conspiring to supply Class A and Class B drugs. Harding was jailed for 18 years and five months. O'Hare was jailed for six and a half years.

36. George Marsh - SneakyStem and WackySilver

EncroChat dealer George Marsh 's international crime network was destroyed by personal messages he sent to his contacts.

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 insight into his life allowed detectives to match the messages of EncroChat codenames "SneakyStem" and "WackySilver" to the then 33-year-old.

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. Marsh was linked to the distribution of 25 kilos of cocaine, 110 kilos of cannabis and one kilo of ketamine. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply each of the drugs and was jailed for 16 years.

His EncroChat names were SneakyStem and WackySilver.

37. William Skillen - SavageArrow

William Skillen, 35, of Long Lane, Orford, Warrington (Liverpool Echo)

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. The six-man crime group from Warrington, Manchester and Hertfordshire were all involved in supplying drugs worth almost a quarter of a million pounds.

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. Skillen, 35 at the time, of Long Lane, Orford, Warrington, was found to be an EncroChat user, using the handle "SavageArrow". Skillen, who admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and failing to comply with a serious crime prevention order, was jailed for 15 years.

His EncroChat name was SavageArrow.

38. Bradley Luxton - SoupHedge and MerrySword

Bradley Luxton, 34, of Birch Avenue, Upton (Merseyside Police)

An EncroChat cocaine boss joked in texts about the hack that would later see him locked up. Bradley Luxton laughed with a fellow drug dealer that they would need 'loads of Skys' - an alternative platform to EncroChat.

The then 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. Luxton dealt in various class A drugs and said he 'remained in the game' after £380,000 worth of drugs was stolen and he had to repay the debt to 'TopsKing'.

He admitted conspiracy to supply 31 kilos of cocaine, 200 tablets of MDMA, 14 grams of ketamine, 51 kilos of cannabis and four kilos of heroin. Luxton, of Birch Avenue, Upton, was jailed for 16 years.

His EncroChat names were SoupHedge and MerrySword.

39. Mathew Badibanga - BagbangBoomBoom

Mathew Badibanga, 34, of Manorwood Drive, Whiston (Liverpool Echo)

Mathew Badibanga used the EncroChat nickname "Bagbangboomboom" to make "vast profits" using the encrypted phone service. He supplied large quantities of cocaine, heroin, cannabis and amphetamines around the country and was arrested in September last year.

The then 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. The dealer, of Manorwood Drive, Whiston, was jailed for 12 years after pleading guilty to four counts of supplying the drugs.

His EncroChat name was BagbangBoomBoom.

40. Sean Moore - TrustPilot and PrawnPilot

Sean Moore, 43, of Marley Close, Rainhill (Liverpool Echo)

EncroChat drug dealer Sean Moore also sold Covid 19 testing kits as a sideline during lockdown. The dad-of-three was exposed as a "wholesale" drug dealer behind the secret handles "TrustPilot" and "PrawnPilot". The then 43-year-old used the clandestine phone network to trade at least 12 kilos of cocaine and five kilos of heroin in just 10 weeks.

But when EncroChat was hacked last year, his use of his own children's initials as passwords helped lead detectives to his door. Police raided his home in Marley Close, Rainhill on June 16 last year and found rooms matched photos sent by Moore on EncroChat. Moore, whose four previous convictions include a money laundering conspiracy, admitted conspiring to supply cocaine and heroin, from April to June last year. He was jailed for 12 years.

His EncroChat names were TrustPilot and PrawnPilot.

41. Michael Devine - LawfulArbor and MixedTree

A top EncroChat drugs boss was busted after police identified him through his Costco membership. Michael Devine had shared details of his membership on the EncroChat encrypted messaging platform. Following a police hack of the EncroChat network, officers were able to link the then 45-year-old to the phone, on which he discussed smuggling hundreds of kilograms of cocaine on boats.

The drugs boss talked about importation runs from Colombia, St Lucia and Brazil, and also discussed his love of poker. 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.

His EncroChat names were LawfulArbor and MixedTree.

42. Liam Garvey - ChopperReid and ButterflyJuice

A drug dealer who used two EncroChat handles was brought to justice. Liam Garvey, 28 at the time, 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.

The network, said by the authorities to have been a hotbed for gangland plots, was penetrated in a joint French-Dutch probe in April 2020. Garvey, who used the EncroChat handles "ChopperReid" and "ButterflyJuice" admitted conspiring to supply cocaine, cannabis and ketamine, conspiring to produce cannabis, and possessing cannabis. He was jailed for nine years and nine months.

His EncroChat names were ChopperReid and ButterflyJuice.

43. Kevin Allan - MessyZebra

Underworld banker Kevin Allan moved £1m of dirty cash for cocaine and cannabis bosses. The then 40-year-old, of Watergate Way, Woolton, acted as a gangland accountant and oversaw the counting or "flicking" of ill-gotten gains. He used an EncroChat phone to update the drug bosses on their income, dealing with hundreds of thousands of pounds at a time.

But when the secret messaging service was cracked by police last year, EncroChat users and their illicit dealings were uncovered. "Money man" Allan, who used the EncroChat handle "MessyZebra", was previously jailed for two years for dealing cannabis in 2005.

He admitted conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis and conspiring to convert criminal property, between December 29, 2019 and May 30, 2020. He was jailed for eight and a half years.

His EncroChat name was MessyZebra.

44. David Holgate - LoftyWizard

EncroChat drug dealer David Holgate was busted when he was caught with 176kg of caffeine in the back of his car. The then 49-year-old was stopped after officers became suspicious of his taxi credentials when they spotted his vehicle on the M62 in June.

When he finally pulled over, police searched the vehicle, revealing the huge quantity of caffeine, set to be used to adulterate ketamine, and £1,030 in cash. 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.

That helped detectives link Holgate to an EncroChat profile with the handle LoftyWizard and the supply of more than 50kg of ketamine, to five different contacts. Police also found a kilo of amphetamines in his basement, valued at £800 to £2,000, which when adulterated could have sold for up to £10,000.

Holgate admitted conspiring to supply ketamine, possessing criminal property and possessing amphetamine with intent to supply. He was jailed for six years and eight months.

His EncroChat name is LoftyWizard.

45. Anthony Lenehan - JetHawk

EncroChat drug dealer Anthony Lenehan was the man behind the codename 'JetHawk'. Lenehan had connections to Dubai and exchanged messages suggesting his influence may have stretched to India and Iran.

He also pooled together with a group of other suppliers to source a mega-shipment of 100kg of cocaine through Hamburg in Germany. The then 57-year-old had worked with others to order the massive haul, 8kgs of which was his. 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.He was jailed for eight years and 10 months.

His EncoChat name was JetHawk.

46. Peter Heron - TameWelder

Peter Heron, 48, of Grosvenor Road in Wavertree (Merseyside Police)

Peter Heron was caught supplying cocaine and cannabis as part of the EncroChat hack. The then 48-year-old, of Grosvenor Road in Wavertree, used the handle "TameWelder" on the secret phone network. Police were able to prove he had supplied six kilos of cocaine and approximately four kilos of cannabis.

Heron was arrested at his home in July this year and admitted conspiring to supply Class A and B drugs and possession of criminal property. He was jailed for 10 years.

His EncroChat name was TameWelder.

47. Nathan Loftus - Bigmninee

Nathan Loftus was involved in importing tens of kilos of heroin and cocaine from Holland into the country through Liverpool. The then 38-year-old, from Bury, used the EncroChat encrypted phone network to bring 'at the very least' 84.5 kilos of cocaine and 59 kilos of heroin.

The major drug boss, who used the code name 'Bigmninee', was also known within the criminal underworld as a 'go-to man' for crooks who wanted guns. He was caught when police recovered text messages from the EncroChat network. Loftus was jailed 22 years.

His EncroChat name was Bigmninee.

48. Simon Roberts - MajorFox and FanaticFirm

Simon Roberts, 57, of Circular Drive, Greasby, was sentenced to 10 years and six months after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin. (Merseyside Police)

Simon Roberts became a "trusted" member of a large-scale drugs gang after his window cleaning business dried up. 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.

Roberts, 57 at the time, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin. 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. Roberts, of Circular Drive, Greasby, Wirral was sentenced to 10 years and six months.

His EncroChat names were MajorFox and FanaticFirm.

49-50. Ricardo Hughes - NovaCoast and Christopher Dooley - OctoOx

Ricardo Hughes, 53, of Rock Lane, Widnes (Liverpool Echo)

An EncroChat drug gang moved nearly £500,000 of amphetamine branded with pictures of The Beano character Billy Whizz. The organised crime group based in St Helens traded almost 50kg of amphetamine, but also flogged cocaine across the UK.

Amphetamine is commonly nicknamed speed, whizz and Billy Whizz - the latter after the famous character in the children's comic. North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) detectives launched an undercover surveillance operation in February 2020. But it was EncroChat messages, recovered in April 2020, which gave officers the additional evidence to blow the lid on the network. Ricardo Hughes, aka EncroChat user "NovaCoast", and Christopher Dooley, aka "OctoOx", were identified as key players in the plot.

Christopher Dooley, 35, of no fixed address but from St Helens (Liverpool Echo)

They both supplied both Class A cocaine and Class B amphetamine. Hughes, 53 at the time, of Rock Lane, Widnes, was jailed for 10 and a half years after admitting conspiring to supply Class A and B drugs. Dooley, 35 at the time, of no fixed address but from St Helens, was jailed for nine years after admitting conspiring to supply Class A and B drugs.

Their EncroChat names were NovaCoast and OctoOx.

51-54. Jordan Talbot - LittleNev, James Ward - StableToast, and Jamie Carlton - StaleSloth

Jordan Talbot, 29, of Elson Road, Formby (Liverpool Echo)

A "top level controller" of a £27m drug gang was caught as he tried to flee with his girlfriend in a BMW to Spain. Jordan Talbot was exposed as EncroChat boss "LittleNev" - a leader of a plot involving "at least" 500kg of Class A drugs. The then 29-year-old planned to move abroad as soon as his licence period for a past sentence for trafficking cocaine expired.

Ahead of his big trip Talbot went on a two-week spending spree, buying himself more than £40,000 of Rolex watches. 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.

James Ward, 32, of no fixed address but from Kirkby (Liverpool Echo)

A judge said it was an "extremely grave offence" as he jailed Talbot for 21 years and nine months. Talbot, of Elson Road, Formby, was locked up alongside James Ward, 32 at the time, of no fixed address but from Kirkby, and Jamie Carlton, 40 at the time, of Church Road, Waterloo.

Ward went by the name "StableToast", Carlton used the handle "StaleSloth", and another Merseyside man - who is still at large - was called "DampHedge". 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 to January 2019. Talbot, Carlton and Ward all admitted conspiring to supply Class A drugs and possessing criminal property.

Jamie Carlton, 40, of Church Road, Waterloo (Liverpool Echo)

Talbot and Ward also admitted conspiring to supply Class B drugs. Ward was involved in transporting about 48kg of Class A drugs, from March 31, 2020 for about two and a half months. He was jailed for 15 years and nine months. Carlton had been involved in transporting 20kg of Class A drugs from May 1, 2020 for five or six weeks. He was jailed for 12 years.

Their EncroChat names were LittleNev, StableToast, and StaleSloth.

55-57. Alexander Keating - DullTuna and WealthyMace, Paul Dillon - WaspLawn, and Dylan Garforth - DiorIce

Two drug dealers involved in a huge cocaine plot were arrested as they tried to board a flight to Spain at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Detectives intercepted Alexander Keating, 30 at the time, and Dylan Garforth, 25 at the time, on Thursday, October 15, before they could depart for the continent. Their capture followed a raid at the home of Paul Dillon, 32 at the time, a few months earlier on Tuesday, June 30, when police seized almost £30,000 in cash.

Paul Dillon, 32, of Norlands Park, Widnes. (cheshirepolice)

Investigators had been monitoring Keating, of Lunts Heath Road, Widnes, Garforth, of no fixed address, and Dillon, of Norlands Park, Widnes, for three months via the hacked EncroChat network. Detectives discovered Dillon and Keating had used EncroChat to discuss the transfer of a "viable firearm" - referring to a pistol and revolver - and conspired with Garforth over the supply of Class A and B drugs. Dillon used the EncroChat codename "WaspLawn", while Keating used the handles "DullTuna" and "WealthyMace", and Garforth called himself "DiorIce".

Dylan Garforth, 25, of no fixed address. (cheshirepolice)

Keating admitted conspiring to supply 30kg of cocaine and large quantities of cannabis; Dillon admitted conspiring to supply 3kg of cocaine, large amounts of ketamine, and to supplying more than £500,000 of cannabis, and Garforth admitted conspiring to supply 10kg of cocaine. 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.

Their EncroChat names were DullTuna and WealthyMace, WaspLawn, and DiorIce.

58-59. Alan Tobin - CapeRocket and John Tobin - SlightDrake

Alan Tobin was sentenced to 20 years in jail and John received a 19 year and eight month sentence following a Cheshire Police probe linked to the seizure of 186kg of cocaine. They were both then sentenced in connection to a gangland shooting in Warrington.

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. John, formerly of Manor Road in Prescot, was handed two and a half years for participating in the activities of an organised crime group. This was also to be served consecutively to the drugs tariff he was already in jail for.

Their EncroChat names were CapeRocket and SlightDrake.

60. Gary Reid - Lockstar

A grandad EncroChat dealer was busted after posting selfies from his own home.

Garry Reid, then 54, who used the handle 'Lockstar', supplied huge quantities of heroin, cocaine and cannabis across Wirral. Liverpool Crown Court heard messages from his Encrochat handle included mention of seven kilos of heroin costing £20,000 as well as talking about five kilos of cocaine costing £41,000 and the use of adulterants.

Police gained access to the encrypted network that Reid had included his home address, photographs of himself and his home and mention of his children. Reid, of Ackers Road, Woodchurch, pleaded guilty to three conspiracies involving the supply of cocaine, heroin and cannabis between March 23 and June 5, 2020. Reid was jailed for nine years and three months.

His EncroChat name was Lockstar.

61. Jamie Lyon - Speciallivy and Customcab

Jamie Lyon, 30, of Clovelly Grove, sentenced to 12 years in prison (Merseyside Police)

Jamie Lyon, of Clovelly Grove was sentenced to 12 years, for his involvement in dealing drugs through the encrypted phone network. The then 30-year-old used the handles Specialivy and Customcab to sell a variety of class A and class B drugs including ecstasy tablets, cocaine and cannabis.

His EncroChat names were Speciallivy and Customcab.

62. Keiron McMahon - Limemace

A drug dealer who was the "money man" in a major EncroChat gang counted and stored up to £800,000 in cash. Keiren McMahon, then 24, of Titchfield Street, Vauxhall, was described as a "cashier, banker and paymaster" for his role in the gang, which saw him count huge wads of in cash in relation to the supply of heroin, cocaine and cannabis.

McMahon, who used the EncroChat handle 'Limemace', was caught following analysis of his encrypted Encrochat phone, which showed he had been in possession of up to £250,000 or more at a time. He was arrested when he flew into Manchester Airport from Amsterdam after police recovered more than 100 pages of chat logs from his encrypted phone. Many of the messages were from someone using the handle Centralhuman, who was higher up the chain and was directing McMahon. In one conversation he asked the defendant how much he was currently counting and he told him £250,000.

McMahon was jailed for 12 years seven months.

His EncroChat name was Limemace.

63. Brian Heffey - Activegamer and Lemonisland

Bryan Stephen Heffey, 46, of Woodend Avenue, Maghull (Merseyside Police)

An EncroChat dealer has been jailed after he posted photos of blocks of cocaine and £16k cash on the service. Bryan Stephen Heffey, 46 at the time, of Woodend Avenue, Maghull was due to stand trial on Monday, March 28, but changed his plea at the last minute to guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs. He was arrested in September 2020 as part of Merseyside Police's response to Operation Venetic as officers cracked down on the mobile encryption network being used to supply drugs across the region.

Heffey was found to be using the EncroChat handles 'Activegamer' and 'Lemonisland' to supply large quantities of heroin, cocaine and cannabis. He was sentenced to 10 years 6 months imprisonment.

His EncroChat names were Activegamer and Lemonisland.

64-65. Claire McGlone and Amy McGlone - MoodyAlpha

Claire and Amy McGlone admitted their role in a conspiracy which saw them move 17kgs of Class A drugs across the UK in a six week period in 2020 along with cannabis and tens of thousands in cash. The pair were jailed for their roles in the plot this morning - but Liverpool Crown Court heard they were taking orders from a remote boss in Spain.

The McGlones used their Encrochat-enabled phone, with the handle “MoodyAlpha” to communicate with their boss, who used the handle “secretgold”. The sisters, who were both mums, were arrested when police found a massive drugs “hide” in their Mazda, while the hacking of the Encrochat network revealed the full extent of their criminality.

Claire McGlone, then 35, of Mintor Road, Kirkby, was jailed for four years and nine months. Amy McGlone, 38 at the time, of Kennelwood Avenue, Kirkby, was jailed for four years and six months.

They used the EncroChat name MoodyAlpha.

66. Dean Anderson - Tendayer and FamousSquid

Dean Anderson, 46, of Tudorville Road, Bebington (Wirral Police)

An EncroChat dealer flooded towns and cities across the UK with high purity cocaine from Colombia.

Dean Anderson, who used the handles ‘tendayer’ and ‘famoussquid’, was described as being "top of the tree" of an organised crime gang supplying drugs across the country. Anderson, who was the owner of Bromborough Skip Hire at the time, was found to have sourced, purchased and sold approximately 30kg of cannabis, 20kg of heroin and 20kg of high purity cocaine between April 3, 2020 and June 2, 2020.

Anderson, of Tudorville Road in Higher Bebington, Wirral, used the EncroChat network to run his large-scale business, and sold large quantities of drugs to Scotland and various other towns and cities across the UK. He was jailed for 14 years four months.

His EncroChat names were tendayer and famoussquid.

67. Ryan Pugh - boredgiraffe

Ryan Pugh was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply multi-kilo quantities of cocaine and cannabis (Merseyside Police)

A drug trafficker used the EncroChat handle "boredgiraffe" to flood Merseyside with huge quantities of cocaine and cannabis. Ryan Pugh was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply multi-kilo quantities of Class A and B drugs. Pugh was arrested as part of Operation Venetic - targeting criminals who used the encrypted phone network to try and evade detection.

The 34-year-old, of Hulme Close, Bromborough, used the Encrochat handle 'boredgiraffe' to supply the drugs across Merseyside. Pugh was jailed for eight years and eight months.

His EncroChat name was boredgiraffe.

68. Kurtis Bolton - Ladbrookes

Kurtis Bolton, 26, of Hoblyn Road, Bidston, jailed at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine (Merseyide Police)

Detectives worked out the identity of a multi-kilo cocaine trafficker using the EncroChat handle 'Ladbrookes' when a contact gave away his name in a message. Kurtis Bolton was involved in the supply of more than 23kg of the Class A drug between March 27 and June 5, 2020, but police noted the device had been used as far back as October, 2019. Liverpool Crown Court heard detectives poring over the messages recovered when the EncroChat service was hacked in early 2020 got a break when personal information was shared by Bolton and his associates.

The 26-year-old, of Hoblyn Road, Bidston, appeared to be working for a user with the EncroChat handle 'PoundCake', and had been involved in collecting and transporting around £305,000 in dirty cash as part of the conspiracy. The prosecution case heard that "messages show that the Defendant was involved in receiving, transporting and distributing vast commercial scale quantities of cocaine. He was working under the direction of ‘poundcake’. The Scale of Criminality shows that during the capture period, he was involved in agreeing to supply 23.5kg of cocaine and in the movement of £305,000 in cash relating to the supply of drugs."

Bolton was jailed for nine years and eight months. He will serve half of that time behind bars before being released on licence.

His EncroChat name was Ladbrookes.

69-72. Mark Evans - MangyStaff, John James Reilly - Wideorchid, Keith Kemp, and Caine Tanswell - Ivyhawk

Top: Mark Evans, left, and Keith Kemp. Bottom: Caine Tansell,left, and John James Reilly (GMP)

A crew of EncroChat drug dealers who traded with figures in the Liverpool underworld ran an operation spanning the length and breadth of the UK. The four men were snared as part of Operation Achilles, run by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), into a network of dealers in the south of Manchester. Detectives managed to identify Mark Evans, 37, as an EncroChat user with the handle 'MangyStaff'.

Evans, from Wythenshawe "mainly travelled to Liverpool" to carry out his illicit trades according to GMP, as well as London and Oxford. He was also particularly active in the Cheetham Hill and Oldham areas of Manchester. The ‘MangyStaff’ handle was also used by co-conspirator Keith Kemp at times. Kemp, 44, also travelled to Liverpool to drop cash off and collect drugs, as well as acting as a courier for other members of the group. He also made deliveries in Peterborough, London, Telford, Derby and Middlesborough.

John James Reilly, known as 'JJ', used the handle ‘Wideorchid’ and widely acted alone, but the 39-year-old also had connections with the rest of the group, carrying out some "business" transactions. Caine Tanswell, 28, who used the handle ‘Ivyhawk’ acted largely alone, purchasing class B drugs from another member of the group. He was charged with conspiracy to supply class B drugs – cannabis – and money laundering.

Mark Evans, of Brows Avenue, Wythenshawe, was jailed for 10 years and six months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs, money laundering and handling stolen goods. Keith Kemp, of Marden Road, Wythenshawe, was also jailed for 10 years and six months for conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs, and money laundering. John James Reilly, of Broadoak Road, Wythenshawe was jailed for 12 years, also for conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs, as well as money laundering. Caine Tanswell, of Yew Tree Lane, Wythenshawe received two years and eight months in prison for conspiracy to supply class B drugs and money laundering.

Their EncroChat names were MangyStaff, Wideorchid and Ivyhawk.

73. Faye Dunn - StiffNinja

A successful businesswoman who worked as an accountant for a drug gang wailed "I can't believe it" as she was jailed. Former professional footballer Faye Dunn was ensnared at an airport after police rumbled the million pound cannabis trafficking operation. The mum became involved in the underworld when her business ventures began to falter due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The then 38-year-old and her dad Michael Dunn operated using EncroChat - an encrypted communications platform commonly used by criminals. But authorities gained access to the network in 2020, with Operation Venetic subsequently revealing that the daughter had been using the handle StiffNinja.

Meanwhile, her convicted drug smuggler father went under the name ZincBat. Faye Dunn was found to have been in close contact with a user known as LedZeppelin, with messages revealing she had "involvement in the supply and production of cannabis".

Dunn was jailed for three years and nine months.

Her EncroChat name was StiffNinja.

Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here.

Bullied schoolboy's life changed after 'lightbulb moment'

Man threatens to kill Merseytravel guard before being sent to the floor

Paedophile threw phone onto garden shed roof when police came knocking

Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here