Op Venetic – the multi agency operation which cracked the encrypted phone system – Encrochat – used by thousands of criminals has resulted in the prison sentences of a number of British men who ran a huge cocaine smuggling operation.
Cheshire crime gang
The gang operated out of Widnes in Cheshire and used a complex set of fake businesses to hide their illegal operation, but thanks to the messages retrieved from Encrochat, the National Crime Agency (NCA) were able to identify the gang members and how they operated.
The operation to catch the gang started shortly after Encrochat was compromised by law enforcement back in 2020 and led to the arrest of the gang members in early 2021.
The gangs leading figures – brothers Craig and Ashley Gallagher were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday (02/08/23)
(Top row L-R) Carl Pickering, Christopher Van Maren, Craig Gallagher, David Jones
(Bottom row L-R) Liam Reynolds, Marcus Allen, Wesley Campbell
Evidence unearthed by detectives showed the lengths the gang went to in an attempt to avoid detection.
- Using a Renault Twingo with a specially constructed hide under the passenger seat
- Using a breakdown truck to move around during Covid Lockdown
- Using a Window fitting van to move around during Covid Lockdown
- Purchasing branded company clothing to avoid suspicion
- Using fake identities to set up cover businesses
Arrests & Sentencing
Gang leader Craig Gallagher was arrested at Manchester Airport whilst waiting to board a flight to Dubai
Gallagher, who went by the online names AcidChest and Onion.com was arrested on multiple charges including:
- Attempting to purchase guns and ammunition, including an AR-15 assault rifle, AK47’s, Glock pistols, a Skorpion machine pistol, and other self-loading pistols
- The import of 100kg of Cocaine into the UK with a value of approx £8M.
- Transfer of criminal property totalling £3,149,159
The 40,000+ messages recovered by investigators showed that Gallagher was gearing up to import between 50kg and 100kg of Cocaine twice a week in to the UK under the guise of computer equipment to a warehouse in Widnes.
One set of messaged showed that Gallagher had lost a shipment of 9Kg to French authorities in May 2020 and that it was the 3rd such loss totaling around £700,000 bu the could cover the losses from the money he had saved from other such imports.
Gallagher was sentenced to 24 years in jail.
Another gang member, Christopher Van Maren who went under the online aliases of BushyQuail was arrested for supplying cocaine and transferring criminal property.
Van Maren was known to store money and drugs at his home in Liverpool and was in posession of a dealer phone when he was arrested.
Van Maren was jailed for 8 years.
A third gang member, Wesley Campbell, who had the online names of Fox-Bat and Covid-Kid, wasa also arrested for supplying drugs and transfer of criminal property was jailed for 12 years.
A fourth man, Kevin Boyle acted as the front-man for the gang, creating fake identities to register bogus business names and take out leases for premises so the gang could act without suspicion. Boyle also ordered fake workgear to add an air of legitimacy to the other members.
Boyle was not accused of drugs running and was sentenced last December to 30 months behind bars.
The remaining gang members will return to court in September to hear their fates.
Op Venetic
This post is one of a number of articles I have posted this year. The other posts are: