Strachan was convicted of a conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs. Encrochat users don't use their real names, but false names, known as "handles". They were both then sentenced in connection to a gangland shooting in Warrington. It is not clear what charges Paul Krusky faces in his role with EncroChat. 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 . 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". Two EncroChat drug dealers conspired to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis across Merseyside. A "top level controller" of a 27m drug gang was caught as he tried to flee with his girlfriend in a BMW to Spain. EncroChat drug dealer David Holgate was busted when he was caught with 176kg of caffeine in the back of his car. A Paul Krusky is listed as working for an ISP that had servers in Waterloo, Ontario, according to forum posts from 2002. But it was EncroChat messages, recovered in April 2020, which gave officers the additional evidence to blow the lid on the network. O'Hare was jailed for six and a half years. The drugs boss talked about importation runs from Colombia, St Lucia and Brazil, and also discussed his love of poker. Harrison Laite used an Encrochat phone to supply multiple kilos of cannabis on the streets on Merseyside. . 800+ arrests, seizure of 40 tons of drugs, 250 guns, 55 luxury cars, and over $148 million in currencies and cryptocurrencies: . Auckland, New Zealand +64-021-567-212 elephant rhyme to remember planets READ MORE: EncroChat dealer busted after being caught with 176kg caffeine haul. He was jailed for 10 years and eight months. Now that Krusky has been arrested, Motherboard can add that the EncroChat member who sent the emails was Krusky. 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. READ MORE: EncroChat drug boss caused his own downfall after his joke texts. 746 arrests were made in the UK alone. Not so that of 14-year-old Mohammed Al-Gharani, nabbed in Pakistan. It will feature reports from Liverpool Crown Court and crime cases connected to Merseyside. Last month the CEO of a drug trafficking organisation known by his underworld alias Piet Costa, was jailed for 17 years for drug importation, money laundering and setting up torture chambers inside shipping containers found by Dutch police in July 2020. READ MORE: 'Milliondolla' EncroChat user said he had cocaine 'coming out me ears'. Krusky appears to have a background working with internet service providers, according to forum posts and archived webpages. 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. Amphetamine is commonly nicknamed speed, whizz and Billy Whizz - the latter after the famous character in the children's comic. Investigators were able to access his contacts via an Encrochat phone. READ MORE: Businessman was drug boss 'FastSilver' flogging Orange Cream, Stardog, Gelato and Jaffa. Users of EncroChat were . 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. Philip Dearden, 31, of Kent Road, St Helens, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis. READ MORE: Underworld banker 'MessyZebra' 'flicked' 1m of dirty cash for drug bosses. 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. Now he has been arrested in . Latest London news, business, sport, showbiz and entertainment from the London Evening Standard. Major crime figures were among over 800 Europe-wide arrests after messages on EncroChat were intercepted and decoded. 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 . But Europe Is Still Awash With Drugs. 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 suspects were arrested on 22 June following a Franco-Dutch operation to infiltrate the EncroChat encrypted phone system. READ MORE: EncroChat dealer nicknamed 'coastalsummer' tried to flee naked through window in raid, 31 David Pinnington - LoftyHail and 32. EncroChat dealer George Marsh 's international crime network was destroyed by personal messages he sent to his contacts. 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. A gang who flooded Greater Manchester with cocaine, heroin, and cannabis are now behind bars - despite their extensive efforts to fool detectives who were wo. Simon Roberts became a "trusted" member of a large-scale drugs gang after his window cleaning business dried up. Bradley Luxton laughed with a fellow drug dealer that they would need 'loads of Skys' - an alternative platform to EncroChat. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Alexander Keating, 30, of Lunts Heath Road, Widnes. London crime: Ealing thug caught hiding a shotgun when police raided Southall home; Read More Related Articles Almost 800 people were arrested across the UK after French officials hacked the Encrochat platform enabling police to read text messages 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. Tom Duffy. 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. Michael Devine had shared details of his membership on the EncroChat encrypted messaging platform. The containers were located in Wouwse Plantage, south of Rotterdam, after French police cracked encrypted phones used by criminals. Detectives intercepted Alexander Keating, 30, and Dylan Garforth, 25, on Thursday, October 15, before they could depart for the continent. 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. Image: Merseyside Police. The insight into his life allowed detectives to match the messages of EncroChat codenames "SneakyStem" and "WackySilver" to the 33-year-old. Mr Horne described it as a "command and control . Talbot and Ward also admitted conspiring to supply Class B drugs. 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. Entire organised crime groups dismantled during Operation Venetic with 746 arrests, and 54m criminal cash, 77 firearms and over two tonnes of drugs seized so far. 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. ", Liverpool transfer news LIVE - Jude Bellingham boost, Goncalo Inacio scouted, Moises Caicedo decision. Police across Europe have used the information secured by French and Dutch detectives who secretly monitored the EncroChat service . Shaun Harrison, 33, of South Street, Thatto Heath, was sentenced to 10 years eight months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and 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'. The police have managed to establish the true identity of the users by analysing their individual messages and personal information. The hacking of the network was compared to cracking the enigma code by Nikki Holland, then director of investigations at the NCA. EncroChat drug dealer Anthony Lenehan was the man behind the codename 'JetHawk'. Police intercepted millions of messages including that of one of the suspects, a 40-year-old man from The Hague. 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. Everton transfer news LIVE - Pedro wanted, Lewis Ferguson price set, investor talks, Everton transfer news, rumours, gossip and speculation including updates on Flamengo forward Pedro, Lewis Ferguson, Renan Lodi and build-up to the Premier League match with Nottingham Forest, 'This road was beautiful once, now we've just got Asda', One person said the street has a bad reputation but "you have to live here to know it", Woolton Picture House 'in communication' with BFI about plans to reopen, The cinema's reopening saga has gone on for years, EXCLUSIVE: Trent Alexander-Arnold opens up on new role at Liverpool after squad vote, Second and final part of the ECHO's exclusive interview with Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sean Dyche is about to get answer to his biggest question as Everton face defining week, Everton face a defining week in their relegation battle, with Sean Dyche set to learn a lot more about his players, Police appear to use emergency lights to pick up passengers from Lime Street, A private hire driver caught the incident on dashcam, Five DWP benefits and 10 medical conditions that give you free prescriptions, The current prescription charge is 9.35 per item, Couple used drone to run 'supermarket for prisoners' smuggling drugs and phones into jails, Jake Burns and Danielle McEllin used a drone to smuggle contraband into prisons. Zoe Drewett Thursday 2 Jul 2020 12:36 pm. John, formerly of Manor Road in Prescot, was handed two and a half years for participating in the activities of an organised crime group. Something went wrong, please try again later. So far, around 800 people, including some prominent crime figures, have been arrested from different parts in Europe using information acquired through EncroChat. READ MORE: Window cleaner became 'MajorFox' in EncroChat ring after business dried up, 50 - 51. 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. Daniels, who was arrested in November, admitted conspiracies to supply cocaine and convert criminal property. 26-year-old Michael Townsend of Grant Road, Huyton was sentenced to six years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court today, Tuesday 9 February. ", Virgil van Dijk makes 'nervous' plea to Liverpool fans before Man United clash, The Dutchman has called on players and fans to come together to help the team get over the line against the Red Devils on Sunday, 'I am spared' - Amadou Onana shares Everton fan theory and makes 'mythical' claim, The Belgium international has built a rapport with Everton supporters while impressing since his summer move from France, 'Stunning' former rectory transformed into modern 1m home, The house dates back to 1880 and includes a lot of period features, Family wrongly kicked out of Mother Goose panto give their review, John's wife was "in tears" as they were escorted out of the auditorium by staff and security, Schoolboy has 'little time left' after mum noticed 'lopsided smile', "There was no longer a cure they could offer him and time was very limited. Begin . 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. 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: Dad who became Encrochat's 'go-to man' for drugs and guns, 49. They both pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply the three drugs. 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. The eight arrests are thought to be the first arrests of people involved in the setting up and running of EncroChat. Thomas Brabbins, 28, of Cherry Tree Road, Huyton, was sentenced to seven years six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply cannabis, possession of cannabis with intent to supply and two counts of possession of criminal property and possession of cannabis. 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. Dozens of criminals embedded in Merseyside's underworld have been jailed after an international operation brought down EncroChat. READ MORE: Dad's drug deals with 'BiggieSmalls' and 'SixTimesLFC' on EncroChat. Paul Krusky played a crucial role in the development of encrypted phone firm EncroChat. The arrests are among 800 made across Europe after EncroChat messages were intercepted and decoded. 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. The organised crime group based in St Helens traded almost 50kg of amphetamine, but also flogged cocaine across the UK. Daniel Wilson, 33, of Silverbeech Road, Wallasey, was sentenced to seven years and eight months after pleading guilty to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis and conspiracy to convert criminal property in relation to the proceeds of his crimes. But 40-year-old Woolton roofer Daniels worked as a drug and cash courier for him, under the handle "ExoticApe", in 2020. Harding then used a new handle called "LesserHedge", to continue carrying out his criminal activity. Dillon used the EncroChat codename "WaspLawn", while Keating used the handles "DullTuna" and "WealthyMace", and Garforth called himself "DiorIce". 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. Jordan Hughes traded cocaine and heroin with crooks using names of Liverpool FC stars on EncroChat. Details of the arrests were first published in French newspaper Le Parisien. He operated on EncroChat as Jethawk. Michael Townsend,26, of Grant Road, Huyton was sentenced to six years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, February 9. Liverpool transfer news, rumours, gossip and speculation including updates on Roberto Firmino, Manuel Locatelli, Naby Keita and Mason Mount. There are other newsletters available too if you want them as well. They found 26,710 in cash in a . READ MORE: EncroChat dealer boasted of 'mayday' airport smuggling scheme, 43. READ MORE: Gang's 'eye watering' cocaine plot recorded on Excel spreadsheets. READ MORE: EncroChat dealers 'Laughingstorm', 'Kindtailor' and 'Wiredfork' see empires crumble after hack. They revealed how the firm used a shell company in Panama and included an EncroChat member sharing the details of a bank account in Luxembourg with an associate for conducting EncroChat business. 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 . 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. 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.