An EncroChat dealer was caught in Manchester Airport after sending detailed texts about his family, addresses and his cars.
George Powell, 40, of Hillside Road, Southport, was arrested at Manchester Airport on July 21 last year, after being identified as the user of the EncroChat handle ‘skint-harry’. Police identified Powell after he sent personal information over encrypted messages including details of relatives, addresses and vehicles linked to him.
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine and heroin) and he accepted being responsible for conspiring to supply 9kg of cocaine and 5kg of heroin between March and June 2020. Powell was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court to 12 years.
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Detective Inspector Peter McCullough said: “Powell’s Encrochat messages revealed his clear involvement as a leading figure in drug conspiracies that could have caused suffering to families and residents in our community. His messages clearly identified him as the user of the ‘skint-harry’ EncroChat handle, which showed his involvement in conspiring to supply significant amounts of cocaine and heroin, causing misery to the people of Merseyside and potentially beyond.
“We know the destruction that drug supply causes and Merseyside Police remains relentless in our pursuit of these criminals and to bring down serious and organised criminal groups.”
Anyone with information on drug dealing is asked to contact @MerPolCC, or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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