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. The Wirral man was arrested by Merseyside Police on January 27 and was remanded into custody the following day.
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Pugh was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison last Thursday, October 20. Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Peter McCullough said: "Pugh joins the queue of criminals who have been put behind bars as part of this huge international operation, and there will be a lot more to come.
"Pugh was generating vast profits, with no regard to the serious harm such as activities cause in our communities. Hopefully he will now take time to reflect on the risks he took and the harm he caused. Our work to track these criminals down and bring down serious and organised criminal groups remains ongoing.
"To those who we haven't got to yet, our message is clear - expect the knock at the door. We will continue to target anyone involved in serious organised crime to keep this positive momentum going."
Anyone with information on drug supply is asked to contact @MerPolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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