A drug dealer who helped supply around £1 million worth of cocaine in north London has been jailed for more than 14 years.
Ashley Allen, 32, was unmasked as part of Scotland Yard's major investigation into encrypted communications network EncroChat.
In four months between March and June 2020, Allen was involved in the conspiracy to supply around 29kgs (63.9lbs) of cocaine with an estimated street value of £1 million.
Police said the Class A drugs "would likely flood the streets of London causing violence and anti-social behaviour".
Met detectives closed in on Allen after European police accessed Encrochat in 2020 and passed data to them.
The Met launched a specialist operation - codenamed ‘Eternal’ - to target Encrochat users believed to be operating from London.
They began investigating the EncroChat handle ‘Rookiekiller’ in September 2020.
They uncovered "compelling evidence" that linked Allen to the EncroChat device, including cases when his personal and EncroChat phone were in the same location.
Other EncroChat users had the handle ‘Rookiekiller’ saved as ‘Ash’, while in many messages ‘Rookiekiller’ also referred to themselves as ‘Ash’.
Evidence in EncroChat "showed that Allen had been running a very successful drug operation with many messages regarding the purchasing, supplying and transportation of Class A drugs and cash", said the Met.
Police raided Allen's home in Denny Close, Enfield, on November 24.
They found 400g of cocaine, a stun gun, knuckleduster, two swords, and £1,500 in cash.
Allen was arrested and then charged on November 25.
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to transfer criminal property, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and possession of a prohibited weapon at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court on June 26.
On Friday, September 29, he was sentenced to 14 years and four months’ imprisonment.
Detective Constable Jess Tregear, from Specialist Crime South, said in a statement issued by the Met on Tuesday: “Allen arranged large-scale drug deals with his ultimate aim being to make as much money as possible, with no thought of the misery and devastation caused in communities by drug supply, and the violence it leads to.
“Op Eternal investigations over the last three years have resulted in the Met identifying and jailing major players in the criminal fraternity, and stemming the flow of drugs and guns onto the streets.
"The drugs trade relies on exploitation and violence to operate and we will continue to relentlessly pursue those involved, and put them before the courts.”
