Two drug dealers have been jailed for a total of more than 16 years after being concerned in supplying £310,000-worth of cocaine on EncroChat.
John Gates and Andrew Brierley, who were also involved in 4kg of cannabis "grows", had been using the encrypted communications platform to deal 7.75kg of the class A drug on Tyneside. A court heard that, while 2.25kg of the cocaine was returned because it was too poor in quality, the remaining 5.5kg was sold to users for a total of £200,000.
Prosecutors heard that Gates had a leading role in the criminal enterprise by sourcing the drugs from "upstream suppliers", while Brierley acted as his "trusted lieutenant" by dishing them out and taking the payments. However, the pair's secret scheme came to light when French police managed to intercept EncroChat in 2020 and their details were given to Northumbria Police..
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Now, Gates, 34, of Greenhills, in Killingworth, has been locked up for nine years and seven months, and Brierley, 31, of Allendale Road, in Walker, has been jailed for 86 months after both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply cannabis. Brierley also pleaded guilty to a further charge of being concerned in supplying a class B drug.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that EncroChat is a subscription-paid service, providing a fully-encrypted communications platform, which users have to purchase mobile phones in order to access. As a result of an investigation by French police in 2020, the EncroChat system was exposed, resulting in Gates's and Brierley's illegal scheme also being unearthed.
Paul Cross, prosecuting, said Gates had the username "No Dramas" and Brierley went by the name "Normal Head" and the pair were involved in the dealing of cocaine on Tyneside, Gates between December 2019 and May 2020 and Brierley between March and June 2020. Mr Cross added: "The prosecution say that this conspiracy was plainly already running when this data became available."
Mr Cross said there were numerous messages and calls found concerning the supply of cocaine and evidence of cannabis growth and supply. He continued: "There was evidence that Gates employed Brierley. Gates didn't have possession of the actual drugs but used Brierley for that. Brierley also accounted for the money."
The court was told that Gates sourced the cocaine from an "upstream" supplier and used Brierley to take possession of it and sell it on to users. In total, he had dealings with 7.75kg of cocaine, worth £40,000 per kg, but 2.25kg was sent back because it was of "poor quality".
The pair were also concerned with 4kg of cannabis "grows", worth £18,000, Mr Cross said. When arrested, Gates tried to smash one of his mobile phones, while neither of the duo's EncroChat mobiles were recovered. During police interview, Gates remained silent, while Brierley denied any knowledge of drug dealing.
Oliver Kirk, defending Gates, who has 31 offences on his record, including eight relating to drug possession and supply, said others were higher-up the chain. Mr Kirk continued: "Mr Gates acted as a middle-man. The reality is that Mr Gates was a local supplier and, although there's that indicative suggestion of a leading role, there's no evidence of substantial financial advantage or close links to the original source." Mr Kirk said Gates had become involved in the conspiracy as a result of being in debt.
Jonathon Rosen, defending Brierley, who has one, unrelated past conviction, told the court that he had also become involved in the scheme because of debt. Mr Rosen added: "His father is extremely ill. Mr Brierley knows that today, having come to court on bail, is probably the last time he's going to have face-to-face contact with his father. It's unlikely he will be able to visit his son in prison."
Sentencing the pair, Recorder Mark Giuliani said: "You, Gates, can be classified as having a leading role. You were directing the organising and selling of drugs on a commercial scale through your trusted lieutenant, Brierley. You had contact with upstream suppliers and you were able to obtain credit. You were giving directions that you wanted the drugs to be Colombian. You gave instructions for an upstream supplier to contact Brierley directly."
Recorder Giuliani added: "You, Brierley, can be correctly classified as having a significant role. You did have an operational function within the chain and had an understanding of the scale of the operation."
Speaking after the sentencing, Northumbria Police Detective Chief Inspector Marc Michael praised the continued work of his team.
He said: “We have made incredible strides over the past few years through our continued activity as part of Operation Sentinel. Today’s results are just another example of what that dedication and effort can achieve as we now have two members of an organised criminal group behind bars.
“Brierley and Gates were observed over a period of time carrying out illegal business activity in plain sight, using their encrypted devices to buy and source cocaine, and a variety of other items like cannabis and MDMA to sell for profit.
“Their brazen and shameless behaviour has now landed them behind bars and their criminal cash and drugs seized. We will continue our work to dismantle and disrupt organised criminality because it has no place here in Northumbria.
“Illegal drugs harm our communities by exploiting and manipulating those who are most vulnerable and we know the profits of their sales never benefit the neighbourhoods they are sold in – the are funnelled back into more serious crime.
“I’d like to thank the team of officers and staff who helped us secure these convictions, thanks to their hard work this pair had no choice but to admit their guilt in court and I am pleased they have been dealt with.”
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