NCA director of investigations Nikki Holland said: "This is the biggest and the most significant law enforcement operation of its kind in the UK and it is previously unmatched in terms of its scale.". Their capture followed a raid at the home of Paul Dillon, 32, a few months earlier on Tuesday, June 30, when police seized almost 30,000 in cash. The National Crime Agency (NCA) claims a total of 746 arrests and the seizure of two tonnes of drugs, 77 assorted firearms and 54m in cash - so far - as a result of the EncroChat intelligence. A judge said it was an "extremely grave offence" as he jailed Talbot for 21 years and nine months. He also pooled together with a group of other suppliers to source a mega-shipment of 100kg of cocaine through Hamburg in Germany. Jack Pritchard, 29, of Mavis Drive, Coppull, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A Drugs cocaine, and was sentenced to 10 years. Earlier this month Paul Ks wife was also arrested, as were six other people suspected of being involved in the running of EncroChat, three in Spain and three in Dubai, the report adds. He used the Encrochat handles Scantbee and Sandferret. He admitted conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis and conspiring to convert criminal property, between December 29, 2019 and May 30, 2020. Investigators were able to access his contacts via an Encrochat phone. Underworld banker Kevin Allan moved 1m of dirty cash for cocaine and cannabis bosses. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply each of the drugs and was jailed for 16 years. Michael Devine - LawfulArbor and MixedTree. A group of lawyers representing defendants in EncroChat related cases recently published an open letter in which they said their clients have not received fair trials due to the intense secrecy around how French military police carried out the technical operation against EncroChat. Police have made more than 1,000 arrests in the UK after French investigators infected EncroChat phones around the world with a software "implant" that covertly harvested messages and data . Jordan Talbot was exposed as EncroChat boss "LittleNev" - a leader of a plot involving "at least" 500kg of Class A drugs. The suspects were arrested on 22 June following a Franco-Dutch operation to infiltrate the EncroChat encrypted phone system. Several Scots household names are said to have been rounded up after a major crackdown on the EncroChat phone encryption network, leading to multiple arrests. More than two tonnes of drugs, several dozen guns and 54m in suspect cash . Harding, who used the handle "MagicCider", sold heroin, cocaine and cannabis worth around 1.5million through the encrypted phone network. We'd love to hear from you. Police arrested a man, 31, and a 35-year-old woman who had allegedly dealt with $600,000 in criminal proceeds for a Sydney airport ground services operator allegedly trafficking drugs. Carl Stewart, 39, of Gem Street, Liverpool was sentenced to 13 years and six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, MDMA, ketamine and transferring criminal property. But 40-year-old Woolton roofer Daniels worked as a drug and cash courier for him, under the handle "ExoticApe", in 2020. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. His Encrochat handle was ToffeeForce and he was identified after sharing an image on his Encro device of a block of cheese in the palm of his hand, from which his fingerprints were analysed. EncroChat - a network infiltrated by law enforcement to investigate organized crime in Europe; Ennetcom - a network seized by Dutch authorities, . 1) Go to our dedicated newsletter page at this link. Following today's guilty verdict, he will be sentenced on 4 January 2022 at . An overview of the cases linked to the major investigation into the use of communications network EncroChat by the region's underworld, Get the latest crime reports and stories from Liverpool Echo straight to your inbox. Hundreds arrested as crime chat network cracked. 746 arrests were made in the UK alone. READ MORE: Underworld banker 'MessyZebra' 'flicked' 1m of dirty cash for drug bosses. READ MORE: EncroChat drug boss boasted he made 20K before 8pm. Begin . On the same day, David Blackburn, 29, was arrested at his home in Springvale Close, Kirkby after detectives linked him to a handle titled "SuperBiking". Ward was involved in transporting about 48kg of Class A drugs, from March 31, 2020 for about two and a half months. That strategy of targeting owners morphed in 2018, when the FBI shuttered Phantom Secure, a popular provider of these phones, and arrested its CEO Vincent Ramos. Latest London news, business, sport, showbiz and entertainment from the London Evening Standard. EncroChat drug dealer Anthony Lenehan was the man behind the codename 'JetHawk'. Michael Burns, 39, of Plymyard Avenue, Eastham, Wirral, was sentenced to 12 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs. They both pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply the three drugs. READ MORE: Encrochat 'Loadedsun' dealer jailed after returning from Spain, 35. But it was EncroChat messages, recovered in April 2020, which gave officers the additional evidence to blow the lid on the network. British authorities have arrested more than 2,600 people and seized about 14 tonnes of drugs using intelligence gathered after cracking a secret messaging service used by criminals to organise smuggling operations. The court heard how Roberts' involvement in the supply of class A drugs, totalled 11kg of cocaine worth 385,000, and 3kg of heroin worth 54,000. That helped detectives link Holgate to an EncroChat profile with the handle LoftyWizard and the supply of more than 50kg of ketamine, to five different contacts. Law enforcement agencies around the world have increasingly targeted the creators and administrators of encrypted phone companies. The drugs boss talked about importation runs from Colombia, St Lucia and Brazil, and also discussed his love of poker. READ MORE: Gang threatened to 'chop off ears' and hold iron to chest of pensioner, 39. So far, around 800 people, including some prominent crime figures, have been arrested from different parts in Europe using information acquired through EncroChat. Michael Townsend,26, of Grant Road, Huyton was sentenced to six years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, February 9. READ MORE: EncroChat dealers planned to flood Merseyside with Class A drugs. Carlton had been involved in transporting 20kg of Class A drugs from May 1, 2020 for five or six weeks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. From drug dealers caught through their love of cheese to major drugs operators who supported shooting plots, this is an overview of 60 of the cases the region had heard about so far. Auckland, New Zealand +64-021-567-212 elephant rhyme to remember planets Read about our approach to external linking. Alan Tobin - CapeRocket and John Tobin - SlightDrake. As part of Operation Venetic, the UK law enforcement crackdown on EncroChat users, Derrane was arrested in his van in the Tingley area of Leeds on April 22 2020. READ MORE: 'Bagbangboomboom' Encrochat dealer raided by police, 41. 11 October 2022 - French Criminal Division of the Court of Cassation provided a landmark ruling on evidence from hacked EncroChat. A series of large-scale law enforcement actions were executed over the past days across 16 countries resulting in more than 700 house searches, more than 800 arrests and the seizure of over 8 tons of cocaine, 22 tons of cannabis and cannabis resin, 2 tons of synthetic drugs (amphetamine and methamphetamine), 6 tons of synthetic drugs precursors, 250 firearms, 55 luxury vehicles and over $48 . British law enforcement officials say they have made their biggest ever breakthrough against organised crime after hacking into an encrypted . This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. READ MORE: Secret gang messages of SnowEmu, SacredMask and MancJoey that brought them down, Jordan Alvis, 35, of Trent Close, West Derby, was sentenced to nine years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply ketamine and heroin and conspiracy to conceal criminal property. To get a behind the scenes look at how they work and the moments that don't make our stories, subscribe to our free weekly Echo Court Files newsletter, written by court reporter Neil Docking. What has emerged is a deliberate strategy in which law enforcement agencies not only target users of the devices, sometimes with highly technical operations that obtain the content of their messages, but also those who run the encrypted phone companies themselves. When he finally pulled over, police searched the vehicle, revealing the huge quantity of caffeine, set to be used to adulterate ketamine, and 1,030 in cash. But when the secret messaging service was cracked by police last year, EncroChat users and their illicit dealings were uncovered. Townsend was convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis and acquire/use/possess criminal property. EncroChat, which has now been taken down, was based in France and had an estimated 60,000 subscribers. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Since then, while thousands of career criminals have been arrested, prosecuted or convicted as a result of incriminating phone messages sent over EncroChat, police have been seeking information about the networks operators. The 57-year-old had worked with others to order the massive haul, 8kgs of which was his. Adam Lonergan, 30, of Rydal Avenue in Prescot, was sentenced to 11 years and eight months for conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis between March 29 and June 5 and possession with intent to supply amphetamine. EncroChat dealer Nathan Harding was busted by police after sharing a photo of himself holding cannabis. Luxton dealt in various class A drugs and said he 'remained in the game' after 380,000 worth of drugs was stolen and he had to repay the debt to 'TopsKing'. Nathan Harding - MagicCider and LesserHedge and 36. At the time, Motherboard did not name this EncroChat member due to the risk they faced being deeply involved in an encrypted phone company that ultimately led to the arrests of thousands of alleged organised criminals. The major international sting involved a system . The UK has arrested more than 1,500 suspects since European detectives cracked an encrypted messaging service 10 months ago used by criminals to organise major drug smuggling operations and gangland hits. 10 The Salad Terrorist. Detectives identified the handprints of the 30-year-old, of Maud Street, Toxteth, on a photo he took showing him holding cannabis in his hand. Almost 800 people were arrested across the UK after French officials hacked the Encrochat platform enabling police to read text messages Roberts, of Circular Drive, Greasby, Wirral was sentenced to 10 years and six months. EncroChat, which offered a secure mobile phone instant messaging service, was a "criminal marketplace" used by 60,000 people worldwide for coordinating the distribution of illicit goods, money . The ANOM platform - unlike Phantom Secure, EncroChat, and Sky Global - was exploited by the FBI from the very beginning of ANOM's existence and was not an infiltration of an existing popular encrypted communications company. The authorities seized over two tons of drugs, dozens of guns, and around 54m in cash. Sean Moore - TrustPilot and PrawnPilot. It was used primarily by organized crime members to plan criminal activities. He was brought down by an investigation that led to police storming his home on Park Road North in Birkenhead, as well as two container units in the town, in June, when they seized a Rolex watch and 82,000 in cash. READ MORE: Dad moved 4.5m of cocaine and heroin for international drug lord. The insight into his life allowed detectives to match the messages of EncroChat codenames "SneakyStem" and "WackySilver" to the 33-year-old. Keating admitted conspiring to supply 30kg of cocaine and large quantities of cannabis; Dillon admitted conspiring to supply 3kg of cocaine, large amounts of ketamine, and to supplying more than 500,000 of cannabis, and Garforth admitted conspiring to supply 10kg of cocaine. EncroChat was a Europe-based communications network and service provider that offered modified smartphones allowing encrypted communication among subscribers. #encro Three men have been arrested in London and two in Western Sydney following the seizure of 450 kilos of MDMA hidden within an excavator that was shippe. July 2, 2020. They are just choosing to spend it more cautiously. Pinnington was jailed for nine years and four months. READ MORE: Gun thugs and gangland brothers jailed for botched underworld shooting, Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here, Raids carried out as part of the EncroChat probe Operation Venetic. Craig O'Hare - also MagicCider. Laite admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis. Steven Strachan, 49, of School Lane, Bidston, was sentenced to six years in prisoners. READ MORE: 27m drug boss caught fleeing to Spain in BMW with girlfriend after spending spree, 56 - 58: Alexander Keating - DullTuna and WealthyMace, Paul Dillon - WaspLawn, and Dylan Garforth - DiorIce. The Court found that French investigators and prosecutors had failed to supply a certificate to authenticate . Amphetamine marked up with pictures of The Beano character Billy Whizz traded by an EncroChat drug gang based in St Helens, Christopher Dooley, 35, of no fixed address but from St Helens, James Ward, 32, of no fixed address but from Kirkby, Jamie Carlton, 40, of Church Road, Waterloo. Officers seized a gun, ammunition . Read about our approach to external linking. Ricardo Hughes - NovaCoast and Christopher Dooley - OctoOx. He was jailed for eight and a half years. To join and get updates, click here and you can also follow Neil's Facebook page here. O'Hare, 33, of Fairfield Avenue, Roby, transported drugs for Harding and supplied up to three kilos of Class A drugs and 10 kilos of cannabis. According to Green, at the time Krusky worked with a Canadian company that wanted to sell secure phones, but it had no customers. Marsh was linked to the distribution of 25 kilos of cocaine, 110 kilos of cannabis and one kilo of ketamine. READ MORE: EncroChat dealer nicknamed 'coastalsummer' tried to flee naked through window in raid, 31 David Pinnington - LoftyHail and 32. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. READ MORE: 'Bro we be multimillionaires in three months haha' boasted dealer. Steven Nicholls, 41, of Ibbotson Lane, Aigburth, was sentenced to 16 years and eight months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit arsons with intent, conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply heroin, and transferring criminal property. David Blackburn - SuperBiking. The 34-year-old kept his two EncroChat phones until March the following year, when police raided his house and exposed his multi-kilo cocaine business. He also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis. READ MORE: Encrochat dealer 'Magiccider' busted after posing for photo with cannabis, 37. EncroChat messages showed 10 weeks of multi kilo trading between April 1 and June 13, 2020 but notes on Talbot and DampHedge's EncroChat devices showed the "full scale" of the scheme, dating back to January 2019. Eventually Kruskys product operated under the name EncroChat, according to emails obtained by Motherboard. After the brothers were arrested, the police conducted a number of searches. Adam Dalby (Image: Essex Police) Golding was given 12 years in jail, while Thurgood was handed eight for being Golding right-hand man in the criminal network. French and Dutch detectives were able to secretly monitor communications between criminals for weeks on the EncroChat service before its . Harding was jailed for 18 years and five months. Join more than 56,000 other people who are members of our Liverpool court cases and crime stories Facebook group and you'll get access to all the latest stories from court reporter Neil Docking. The dad-of-two . Devine, of Pete Best Drive, West Derby, was jailed for 17 years and three months after admitting conspiracy to import cocaine and conspiracies to supply cocaine, heroin, amphetamines and ketamine. The 48-year-old, of Grosvenor Road in Wavertree, used the handle "TameWelder" on the secret phone network. Something went wrong, please try again later. Both L. Wilkinson and Dalby was sentenced to six years and eight months. An unidentified source associated with EncroChat . The 28-year-old, of Shayfield Road in Manchester, was sentenced to 16 years in prison. For more news and features about London directly to your inbox sign up to our newsletter here. Skillen, who admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and failing to comply with a serious crime prevention order, was jailed for 15 years. Dillon used the EncroChat codename "WaspLawn", while Keating used the handles "DullTuna" and "WealthyMace", and Garforth called himself "DiorIce". He was jailed for 10 years and eight months. French investigators managed to access Encrochat, an encrypted platform . READ MORE: Gang's 'eye watering' cocaine plot recorded on Excel spreadsheets. Talbot, of Elson Road, Formby, was locked up alongside James Ward, 32, of no fixed address but from Kirkby, and Jamie Carlton, 40, of Church Road, Waterloo. They were both then sentenced in connection to a gangland shooting in Warrington. READ MORE: EncroChat drug boss panicked after cocaine market 'stood still' during lockdown. The containers were located in Wouwse Plantage, south of Rotterdam, after French police cracked encrypted phones used by criminals. Ricardo Hughes, aka EncroChat user "NovaCoast", and Christopher Dooley, aka "OctoOx", were identified as key players in the plot. James Duckworth, 42, of Langdale Close, Kirkby, was sentenced to 16-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. Ryan Mulcahy, 29, of Maregreen Road, Everton, was sentenced to six years and six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess/convert/acquire criminal property. Threats detailed on the site included acid attacks and chopping off limbs. A video posted online by police shows officers arresting the suspects and also entering the containers. Liam Garvey, 28, of The Boulevard, Thatto Heath, Kevin Allan was the 'money man' for a 1 million EncroChat cocaine conspiracy, Kevin Allan helped cocaine bosses keep track of their thousands of pounds by acting as a gangland banker, David Holgate, 49 and from Anfield, went by the EncroChat handle LoftyWizard and was sentenced to six years and eight months for drugs offences. Detectives discovered Dillon and Keating had used EncroChat to discuss the transfer of a "viable firearm" - referring to a pistol and revolver - and conspired with Garforth over the supply of Class A and B drugs. A military-grade encrypted communication system called Encrochat, allegedly used by organised criminals trading in drugs and guns, was hacked by police and their partners. Something went wrong, please try again later. READ MORE: EncroChat dealers 'Laughingstorm', 'Kindtailor' and 'Wiredfork' see empires crumble after hack. Stephen Taylor, 33 years, of Norlands Park, Widnes, was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court for 12 years eight months for conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs and conspiracy to conceal criminal property. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. The arrests are among 800 made across Europe after EncroChat messages were intercepted and decoded. The Tobin brothers Alan Tobin, 52, (left) and John Tobin, 40, (right). Encrochat: the top-secret network explained after the NCA helped hack phones of major crime figures and made arrests. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Daniels, who was arrested in November, admitted conspiracies to supply cocaine and convert criminal property. In March 2021 Motherboard published details from a cache of emails that showed the shadowy corporate structure behind EncroChat. It could affect hundreds of criminal investigations, prosecutions, and investigations in the UK. This is the warning that sent shockwaves through Britain's criminal underworld after police penetrated an encrypted phone network for 'untouchable' crime bosses. The 38-year-old, from Bury, used the EncroChat encrypted phone network to bring 'at the very least' 84.5 kilos of cocaine and 59 kilos of heroin. He was jailed for 12 years. READ MORE: EncroChat dealer's empire crushed after he told contacts when his birthday was. Image: Merseyside Police. Skillen, 35, of Long Lane, Orford, Warrington, was found to be an EncroChat user, using the handle "SavageArrow". Value for money and would buy again. Alan Tobin was sentenced to 20 years in jail and John received a 19 year and eight month sentence following a Cheshire Police probe linked to the seizure of 186kg of cocaine. This was also to be served consecutively to the drugs tariff he was already in jail for. Shaun Done, 25, of Beech Road, Huyton was sentenced to seven years, nine months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply cannabis and conspiracy to acquire/use/possess criminal property. When European authorities hacked EncroChat in 2020, after announcing the operation publicly, they asked the owners to come forward because they had been unable to identify them. Do you know anything else about Encrochat or its owners? The network, said by the authorities to have been a hotbed for gangland plots, was penetrated in a joint French-Dutch probe in April 2020. When the containers were almost finished, investigators decided to intervene. He was jailed for 15 years and nine months. Paul Dillon, 32, of Norlands Park, Widnes. Customers were able to access features such as self-destructing messages, which deleted from the recipient's device after a certain amount of time. The hacking of the network was compared to cracking the enigma code by Nikki Holland, then director of investigations at the NCA. Investigators had been monitoring Keating, of Lunts Heath Road, Widnes, Garforth, of no fixed address, and Dillon, of Norlands Park, Widnes, for three months via the hacked EncroChat network. ", Liverpool salon owner providing 'safety net' for new beauticians, The female-run salon provides a 'safe space' for women, M&S shoppers praise 'lovely' 27.50 dress that's 'very flattering', One M&S shopper said: "Excellent dress and great fit.