Alan, formerly of Regency Park, Widnes, was sentenced to a further eight years for conspiracies to cause GBH with intent to both Liam Byrne Jnr and Liam Byrne Snr. Encrochat, which charged 1,500 for a device on a six-month contract, sent out a warning to users in early June to say that its servers had been hacked by a government entity. READ MORE: EncroChat dealer's empire crushed after he told contacts when his birthday was. The Le Parisien report did not publish Paul Ks full name. Officers seized a gun, ammunition . After locating the containers in April in Wouwse Plantage, near the Belgian border, police put the area under observation and found that multiple men were working on them almost every day. Image purporting to show drugs seized by police in a series of raids in SE London, Kent and Sussex yesterday (September 22). Details of the arrests were first published in French newspaper Le Parisien. In the UK, the National Crime Agency (NCA), working with regional organised crime units, the Metropolitan Police and other law enforcement agencies, made more than 2,600 EncroChat-related arrests . Demand for the devices soared as law enforcement officials shut down older, rival encrypted networks, including one called EncroChat that was dismantled in July 2020 and another, Sky Global, that . The organised crime group based in St Helens traded almost 50kg of amphetamine, but also flogged cocaine across the UK. 746 arrests were made in the UK alone. 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. The authorities seized over two tons of drugs, dozens of guns, and around 54m in cash. A top EncroChat drugs boss was busted after police identified him through his Costco membership. He was jailed for 12 years. The career criminal was executed by a masked cyclist while walking his dogs, after the gunman was alerted to his location by an EncroChat message. 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. EncroChat - a network infiltrated by law enforcement to investigate organized crime in Europe; Ennetcom - a network seized by Dutch authorities, . EncroChat drug dealer David Holgate was busted when he was caught with 176kg of caffeine in the back of his car. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter'. Roberts, 57, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin. The 29-year-old planned to move abroad as soon as his licence period for a past sentence for trafficking cocaine expired. O'Hare was jailed for six and a half years. Police have arrested eight people suspected of being behind the secretive global phone network EncroChat during an operation in Spain, Dubai, and the Dominican Republic, VICE World News has learned. John, formerly of Manor Road in Prescot, was handed two and a half years for participating in the activities of an organised crime group. Then last year, U.S. authorities also charged Jean-Francois Eap, the CEO of the largest encrypted phone company called Sky Global, with similar offenses. 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. Amphetamine is commonly nicknamed speed, whizz and Billy Whizz - the latter after the famous character in the children's comic. Inside the containers was a dentist chair with straps and handcuffs. It operated on customised Android phones and, according to its website, provided "worry-free secure communications". Eventually Kruskys product operated under the name EncroChat, according to emails obtained by Motherboard. Luxton, of Birch Avenue, Upton, was jailed for 16 years. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply each of the drugs and was jailed for 16 years. Police forces first became aware of the EncroChat network in 2016. 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. Garvey, who used the EncroChat handles "ChopperReid" and "ButterflyJuice" admitted conspiring to supply cocaine, cannabis and ketamine, conspiring to produce cannabis, and possessing cannabis. However, according to a cache of emails previously obtained by VICEs Motherboard and information from a source who interacted with EncroChat this name likely refers to Paul Krusky, a Canadian tech expert who Motherboard has found was integral to the early development and running of EncroChat. Once you're there, put your email address where it says at the top, then click on the Echo Court Files button. Read More Related Articles. Peter Heron was caught supplying cocaine and cannabis as part of the EncroChat hack. Detectives intercepted Alexander Keating, 30, and Dylan Garforth, 25, on Thursday, October 15, before they could depart for the continent. 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. His Encrochat handle was Sacredmask. 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 . For more news and features about London directly to your inbox sign up to our newsletter here. He also pooled together with a group of other suppliers to source a mega-shipment of 100kg of cocaine through Hamburg in Germany. The main target of the operation, according to the report, was a Canadian suspect called Paul K. He was jailed for nine years and nine months. Hundreds of other EncroChat users have been arrested across Europe. Quinn used the EncroChat handle WiredFork. Major crime figures were among over 800 Europe-wide arrests after messages on EncroChat were intercepted and decoded. But detectives swooped on the cocaine, heroin and cannabis dealer as he tried to cross the channel at Folkestone in Kent, on July 20, 2020. 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 . Starting years ago in the Netherlands, Dutch police repeatedly arrested owners of firms that made PGP BlackBerrys, customised BlackBerry devices that had the ability to send encrypted emails. Major crime figures were among over 800 Europe-wide arrests after messages on EncroChat were intercepted and decoded. READ MORE: EncroChat dealer bragged he'd use cocaine and heroin to fund house extension, 42. 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. According to Green, at the time Krusky worked with a Canadian company that wanted to sell secure phones, but it had no customers. READ MORE: Window cleaner became 'MajorFox' in EncroChat ring after business dried up, 50 - 51. 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. Hughes, 53, of Rock Lane, Widnes, was jailed for 10 and a half years after admitting conspiring to supply Class A and B drugs. Simon Roberts became a "trusted" member of a large-scale drugs gang after his window cleaning business dried up. Two of the suspects have also been detained for possession of weapons. It will feature reports from Liverpool Crown Court and crime cases connected to Merseyside. He used the MagicCider handle between April to May 2020, before it was passed over to another dealer, his drug courier Craig O'Hare. 800+ arrests, seizure of 40 tons of drugs, 250 guns, 55 luxury cars, and over $148 million in currencies and cryptocurrencies: . Try for 30 days ( free of charge) the DigitalBank Vault SuperEncryption System . Eight men aged between 21-47 and a 26-year-old woman. 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. Ward went by the name "StableToast", Carlton used the handle "StaleSloth", and another Merseyside man - who is still at large - was called "DampHedge". The dad-of-three was exposed as a "wholesale" drug dealer behind the secret handles "TrustPilot" and "PrawnPilot". As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The 48-year-old, of Grosvenor Road in Wavertree, used the handle "TameWelder" on the secret phone network. READ MORE: 'Bagbangboomboom' Encrochat dealer raided by police, 41. Nathan Loftus was involved in importing tens of kilos of heroin and cocaine from Holland into the country through Liverpool. Two drug dealers involved in a huge cocaine plot were arrested as they tried to board a flight to Spain at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Laite admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis. An EncroChat cocaine boss joked in texts about the hack that would later see him locked up. After French and Dutch police broke into EncroChat, British police were permitted to use their findings, meaning UK police forces were then able to kick down doors and make arrests. READ MORE: 'Bro we be multimillionaires in three months haha' boasted dealer. D.Wilkinson was handed a four years and eight sentence, while Aldred was jailed for two years and eight months. An EncroChat drug gang moved nearly 500,000 of amphetamine branded with pictures of The Beano character Billy Whizz. The Wirral crook - who had contacts in Portugal, Spain and Germany - shared details about his birthday and the dates of his father's death and funeral. Harding was jailed for 18 years and five months. READ MORE: EncroChat drug boss panicked after cocaine market 'stood still' during lockdown. Drugs gang who went under the names of 'Golden Harbour', 'Butch Hippo' and 'Amused Penguin' on encrypted EncroChat network and sold at least 6kg of 'high quality' cocaine are jailed for 18 years Geoff Green, the founder of legitimate encrypted phone company Myntex, previously described to Motherboard his interactions with Krusky and what appears to be the very early stages of EncroChat. But 40-year-old Woolton roofer Daniels worked as a drug and cash courier for him, under the handle "ExoticApe", in 2020. Sometimes called the criminal's WhatsApp, it advertised its service as being 'the electronic equivalent of a conversation . He admitted conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis and conspiring to convert criminal property, between December 29, 2019 and May 30, 2020. He was arrested in April at Stansted Airport as he returned from Spain, where he had stayed for a few weeks. 1) Go to our dedicated newsletter page at this link. Dutch police said the containers were found before they were used, and potential victims were now in hiding. READ MORE: Gang threatened to 'chop off ears' and hold iron to chest of pensioner, 39. Read about our approach to external linking. 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'. Dooley, 35, of no fixed address but from St Helens, was jailed for nine years after admitting conspiring to supply Class A and B drugs. Hundreds arrested as crime chat network cracked. Alan Tobin - CapeRocket and John Tobin - SlightDrake. 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. Mathew Badibanga used the EncroChat nickname "Bagbangboomboom" to make "vast profits" using the encrypted phone service. A drug dealer who used two EncroChat handles was brought to justice. You can also sign up to our court newsletter here and get a twice weekly roundup of court cases sent your email inbox for free. . 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. The 49-year-old was stopped after officers became suspicious of his taxi credentials when they spotted his vehicle on the M62 in June. PARIS The police in Europe said Thursday they had arrested hundreds of people on suspicion of drug trafficking and other crimes after successfully hacking into an encrypted phone . READ MORE: EncroChat dealer 'Tamewelder' caught with ten kilos of cocaine and weed. By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. Townsend was convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis and acquire/use/possess criminal property. This is the warning that sent shockwaves through Britain's criminal underworld after police penetrated an encrypted phone network for 'untouchable' crime bosses. Threats detailed on the site included acid attacks and chopping off limbs. More than two tonnes of drugs, several dozen guns and 54m in suspect cash . They are just choosing to spend it more cautiously. The dad-of-two . July 2, 2020. Gabriel meanwhile, aged 29 and of Bolam Close in Manchester, was given a jail sentence of 13 years and six . He used the Encrochat handles Scantbee and Sandferret. Cops Investigating 'WhatsApp for Gangsters' Arrest Key Suspect in Caribbean. Police arrested Yasin on New Year's Eve, and he and around 20 others are suspects in the case, with several believed to be linked to the criminal gang known as the Vrby Network. 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. 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. Isaac Rasmussen, 28, from Heath Road Widnes, previously from the Huyton area was sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiring to fraudulently evade prohibition on the import of Class A drugs and conspiring to fraudulently evade a prohibition on the import of Class B drugs. Dubbed EncroChat, the top-secret encrypted communication app comes pre-installed on a customized Android . 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. UK law enforcement has made a massive breakthrough in the fight against serious and organised crime after the takedown of a bespoke encrypted global communication service used exclusively by criminals. Hundreds of innocent people were detained alongside real terrorists. The above nine . Following today's guilty verdict, he will be sentenced on 4 January 2022 at . 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. EncroChat was a Europe-based communications network and service provider that offered modified smartphones allowing encrypted communication among subscribers. Police intercepted . His EncroChat handle was LaughingStorm. In another, they located pruning shears, scalpels and balaclavas. A video posted online by police showed officers entering the containers, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Mother who killed her five children euthanised, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, US sues Exxon over nooses found at Louisiana plant, Coded hidden note led to Italy mafia boss arrest. The data from EncroChat has been a real boon to law enforcementorganized crime arrests in Germany soared by 17 percent following the police busts, and at least 2,800 people have been arrested . It could affect hundreds of criminal investigations, prosecutions, and investigations in the UK. READ MORE: EncroChat dealer boasted of 'mayday' airport smuggling scheme, 43. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Krusky appears to have a background working with internet service providers, according to forum posts and archived webpages. The 57-year-old had worked with others to order the massive haul, 8kgs of which was his. READ MORE: EncroChat dealer nicknamed 'coastalsummer' tried to flee naked through window in raid, 31 David Pinnington - LoftyHail and 32. 11 October 2022 - French Criminal Division of the Court of Cassation provided a landmark ruling on evidence from hacked EncroChat. He was jailed for 10 years and eight months. Dean Deary, 39, of Pinehurst Avenue, Anfield, was sentenced to 12 years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, ketamine and cannabis. Skillen, 35, of Long Lane, Orford, Warrington, was found to be an EncroChat user, using the handle "SavageArrow". . More than 100 people have now been charged by the Met Police as part of Operation Eternal. Paul Krusky played a crucial role in the development of encrypted phone firm EncroChat. 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. READ MORE: Block of Stilton cheese led to the downfall of EncroChat drug dealer. 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. 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. 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. George Marsh - SneakyStem and WackySilver. Michael Devine - LawfulArbor and MixedTree. Police also found a building in Rotterdam, which they believe was another criminal base. He delivered at least 44 kilos of cocaine and stored hundreds of thousands of pounds of cash in his family home in Linkside Road. H. undreds of suspected criminals have been arrested worldwide after being tricked into using an FBI encrypted messaging service. Something went wrong, please try again later. Dentith, 29, of College View, Huyton, was sentenced to 17 years three months after pleading guilty to supply cocaine and ecstasy. Latest London news, business, sport, showbiz and entertainment from the London Evening Standard. Police were able to prove he had supplied six kilos of cocaine and approximately four kilos of cannabis. Skillen, who admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and failing to comply with a serious crime prevention order, was jailed for 15 years. READ MORE: EncroChat dealer 'RecoveryMan' boasts about the quality of his 'Charlie', Gavin Jones, 42, of Houlgrove Road, Vauxhall was jailed for 14 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. The suspects were arrested on 22 June following a Franco-Dutch operation to infiltrate the EncroChat encrypted phone system. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. The major international sting involved a system . He operated on EncroChat as Jethawk. READ MORE: Encrochat dealer 'Magiccider' busted after posing for photo with cannabis, 37. Anthony Lenehan, 57 and of Scarisbrick Road in Walton, was jailed for drugs and passport offences. Liam Hughes, 24, of Robson Street, Everton, was sentenced to 14 years and six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A Drugs (cocaine and heroin); conspiracy to supply Class B drugs (cannabis and conspiracy to possess/convert/acquire criminal property. 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. Police have arrested more than 700 suspects, seized 54m in cash and tonnes of drugs in the UK's "biggest and most significant" operation ever against organised crime.. Officials said . Jordan Hughes traded cocaine and heroin with crooks using names of Liverpool FC stars on EncroChat. The hacking of the network was compared to cracking the enigma code by Nikki Holland, then director of investigations at the NCA. Lenehan, of Scarisbrick Road in Walton, but who lived in Dubai until recently, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and making a false statement to gain a passport. Customers were able to access features such as self-destructing messages, which deleted from the recipient's device after a certain amount of time. But at least the CIA's mistakes were understandable in many cases. Jordan Talbot was exposed as EncroChat boss "LittleNev" - a leader of a plot involving "at least" 500kg of Class A drugs. 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.". Liverpool's courts are some of the busiest in the UK, with a huge variety of cases being heard each week. Transform any Android device or Windows Laptop into an Unbreakable Encrypti. Liam Garvey - ChopperReid and ButterflyJuice. In March 2021 Motherboard published details from a cache of emails that showed the shadowy corporate structure behind EncroChat. Police say many of the network's customers used the service to plot illicit schemes linked to drug dealing and, in some cases violence. French investigators managed to access Encrochat, an encrypted platform . The force says it is "the most significant operation" it has ever launched against alleged serious and organised crime and forms part of the National Crime Agency's (NCA) Operation Venetic, which has seen more than 700 people arrested across Europe. 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. 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. A "top level controller" of a 27m drug gang was caught as he tried to flee with his girlfriend in a BMW to Spain. READ MORE: Gang's 'eye watering' cocaine plot recorded on Excel spreadsheets. Cocaine dealer William Skillen was linked to a sinister drug gang who threatened to "chop off ears" and batter an OAP in a 500,000 robbery plot. An unidentified source associated with EncroChat . READ MORE: EncroChat dealer 'LovelyGiant' used 'key worker' to ferry cocaine in lockdown. Police infiltrated the network between at least March and June 2020 during a Europe-wide investigation. Do you know anything else about Encrochat or its owners? 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. READ MORE: Encrochat 'Loadedsun' dealer jailed after returning from Spain, 35. In a joint operation, European and British law enforcement agencies recently arrested hundreds of alleged drug dealers and other criminals after infiltrating into a global network of an encrypted chatting app that was used to plot drug deals, money laundering, extortions, and even murders.