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.
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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.
The men appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Monday, where they were jailed for a combined 35 years.
Detective Sergeant Andrew Beard said: “We are absolutely thrilled with today’s result, which has seen four OCG members taken off the streets of Manchester for a considerable period of time.
“Since the Encrochat system was deciphered, GMP’s Challenger Team have continued to hunt down and identify people who have been bringing drugs onto our streets and engaging in illegal activities to keep their drug supplies going.
“If you are involved in supplying drugs, money laundering or working within an organised crime group, we will identify you, arrest you and prosecute to the full extent of the law. We want to protect the people of Greater Manchester and there is no better way to do this than to get people, likes these four individuals, off the streets and behind bars.
“A lot of our intelligence comes from the members of the public and if you do have information relating to the dealing of drugs or any of the crimes we have mentioned today, please don’t hesitate to get in touch."
- 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.
The investigation follows the national Operation Venetic, which followed the hacking of the encrypted EncroChat mobile phone network by French and Dutch authorities in early 2020. The data was shared with the National Crime Agency (NCA), who have worked with local police forces to prosecute hundreds of organised criminals.
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