Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Jonathan Humphries

Suspected Liverpool EncroChat fugitives arrested in Amsterdam

Two alleged gangland figures accused of links to EncroChat enabled drug trafficking have been arrested in Amsterdam.

An international operation involving the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Dutch police saw the men apprehended in the Dutch capital during the past week.

According to NWROCU, the two men were wanted in connection with Operation Venetic - the UK arm of the international operation targeting organised criminals using the EncroChat encrypted phone network, hacked by French authorities in 2020.

READ MORE: Kingpin jailed over £4billion drug plot fails in bid for cushier prison conditions

One of the suspects, a 59-year-old man from West Derby, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin, and conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin outside the jurisdiction (Scotland).

The second man, described as a 35-year-old from Anfield, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis, conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited weapons, conspiracy to possess ammunition and conspiracy to import cocaine.

Detective Inspector Dave Worthington, from the NWROCU's Operations Team, said: "There is no such place as a safe haven for fugitives on the run. It does not matter where in the world they flee to, the NCA and its partners have the expertise to track them down and bring them back to the UK to face justice.

"We have been wanting to speak to this pair since June 2020 when the Encrochat platform was taken down. We are now working with the NCA and European authorities, so he can be extradited to the UK."

READ NEXT:

'Major incident' as protestor throws eggs at King Charles III

Mum considered taking her life over Concert Square sex videos backlash

Kingpin jailed over £4bn drug plot fails in bid for cushier prison conditions

Drug dealer caught in hotel bed claims huge stash was all for him

Police officer hospitalised after attack by suspected drug dealer

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.