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 . 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 His EncroChat handle was LaughingStorm. The containers were located in Wouwse Plantage, south of Rotterdam, after French police cracked encrypted phones used by criminals. Townsend was convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis and acquire/use/possess criminal property. Using a non-work phone or computer, you can contact Joseph Cox securely on Signal on+44 20 8133 5190, Wickr on josephcox, or emailjoseph.cox@vice.com. Operation Eternal has been called 'the most significant operation the Met has ever launched against serious and organised crime', Stories from court and the latest breaking crime news sent right to your inbox. Pinnington was jailed for nine years and four months. Sean Skinner, 41, of Nightingale Vale, Greenwich SE18, was arrested on June 19, 2020. The Tobin brothers Alan Tobin, 52, (left) and John Tobin, 40, (right). He was jailed for 10 years and eight months. To join and get updates, click here and you can also follow Neil's Facebook page here. The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) has made 746 arrests and dismantled dozens of organized crime groups after intercepting millions of encrypted text . Craig O'Hare - also MagicCider. But it was EncroChat messages, recovered in April 2020, which gave officers the additional evidence to blow the lid on the network. Ahead of his big trip Talbot went on a two-week spending spree, buying himself more than 40,000 of Rolex watches. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? EncroChat drug dealer David Holgate was busted when he was caught with 176kg of caffeine in the back of his car. Jordan Talbot was exposed as EncroChat boss "LittleNev" - a leader of a plot involving "at least" 500kg of Class A drugs. Harding then used a new handle called "LesserHedge", to continue carrying out his criminal activity. The six-man crime group from Warrington, Manchester and Hertfordshire were all involved in supplying drugs worth almost a quarter of a million pounds. . Detectives intercepted Alexander Keating, 30, and Dylan Garforth, 25, on Thursday, October 15, before they could depart for the continent. The eight arrests are thought to be the first arrests of people involved in the setting up and running of EncroChat. 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'. This was also to be served consecutively to the drugs tariff he was already in jail for. For reasons unknown he was then released. He was arrested in April at Stansted Airport as he returned from Spain, where he had stayed for a few weeks. READ MORE: 'Billy Whizz' EncroChat gang moved nearly 500,000 of speed, 52 -55. READ MORE: EncroChat drug boss panicked after cocaine market 'stood still' during lockdown. The suspects were arrested on 22 June following a Franco-Dutch operation to infiltrate the EncroChat encrypted phone system. 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. Talbot and Ward also admitted conspiring to supply Class B drugs. Police say many of the network's customers used the service to plot illicit schemes linked to drug dealing and, in some cases violence. Thousands of officers from the NCA, regional crime squads and every police force in the UK were involved in the international operation, which was launched in April. 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. The dad-of-three was exposed as a "wholesale" drug dealer behind the secret handles "TrustPilot" and "PrawnPilot". EncroChat phones are among the most secure mobiles in the world Credit: YouTube Marketed as the "world's most secure handset", the device is popular among hitmen, drug lords and other major criminals. EncroChat was a Europe-based communications network and service provider that offered modified smartphones allowing encrypted communication among subscribers. 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. 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. 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. This is the warning that sent shockwaves through Britain's criminal underworld after police penetrated an encrypted phone network for 'untouchable' crime bosses. 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. A top EncroChat drugs boss was busted after police identified him through his Costco membership. READ MORE: Dealer 'Vilecrusher' told police: 'Anyone whos had those Encros is f***ing going'. Dubbed EncroChat, the top-secret encrypted communication app comes pre-installed on a customized Android . READ MORE: 'Bagbangboomboom' Encrochat dealer raided by police, 41. Read More Related Articles. 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. Sometimes called the criminal's WhatsApp, it advertised its service as being 'the electronic equivalent of a conversation . Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Transform any Android device or Windows Laptop into an Unbreakable Encrypti. Michael Devine had shared details of his membership on the EncroChat encrypted messaging platform. They are just choosing to spend it more cautiously. The identity of the crook who has adopted the name of the Reds' Brazilian shot stopper on the secret phone network remains a mystery. 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. . Police forces first became aware of the EncroChat network in 2016. The huge operation has been taking place over the past three months with police seizing 13m of cash in London alone. Kevin Daniels handled 1.5m of dirty cash for a drug boss who used the name of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker on EncroChat. Mathew Badibanga used the EncroChat nickname "Bagbangboomboom" to make "vast profits" using the encrypted phone service. 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. Something went wrong, please try again later. Encrochat: the top-secret network explained after the NCA helped hack phones of major crime figures and made arrests. 10 The Salad Terrorist. "Money man" Allan, who used the EncroChat handle "MessyZebra", was previously jailed for two years for dealing cannabis in 2005. They were caught after an 18-month investigation and were among the 250-plus arrests made in GMP's strand of the National Crime Agency's . 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. READ MORE: Block of Stilton cheese led to the downfall of EncroChat drug dealer. Liam Garvey, 28, was arrested at his home on The Boulevard, Thatto Heath, St Helens on May 13 this year as part of the police operation targeting criminals who used the encrypted network. After the brothers were arrested, the police conducted a number of searches. READ MORE: EncroChat dealers planned to flood Merseyside with Class A drugs. Read about our approach to external linking. 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 . Both men admitted conspiring to supply Class A and Class B drugs. H. undreds of suspected criminals have been arrested worldwide after being tricked into using an FBI encrypted messaging service. Following today's guilty verdict, he will be sentenced on 4 January 2022 at . 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. Daniels, who was arrested in November, admitted conspiracies to supply cocaine and convert criminal property. D.Wilkinson was handed a four years and eight sentence, while Aldred was jailed for two years and eight months. 26-year-old Michael Townsend of Grant Road, Huyton was sentenced to six years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court today, Tuesday 9 February. 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". READ MORE: EncroChat dealer nicknamed 'coastalsummer' tried to flee naked through window in raid, 31 David Pinnington - LoftyHail and 32. 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. Major crime figures were among over 800 Europe-wide arrests after messages on EncroChat were intercepted and decoded. 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. Dillon used the EncroChat codename "WaspLawn", while Keating used the handles "DullTuna" and "WealthyMace", and Garforth called himself "DiorIce". READ MORE: EncroChat dealer 'butterflyjuice' jailed for almost a decade. Harrison Laite used an Encrochat phone to supply multiple kilos of cannabis on the streets on Merseyside. Paul Krusky played a crucial role in the development of encrypted phone firm EncroChat. Strachan was convicted of a conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs. 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. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. 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. Michael Townsend,26, of Grant Road, Huyton was sentenced to six years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, February 9. Carlton had been involved in transporting 20kg of Class A drugs from May 1, 2020 for five or six weeks. They both supplied both Class A cocaine and Class B amphetamine. READ MORE: EncroChat dealer boasted of 'mayday' airport smuggling scheme, 43. Nathan Loftus was involved in importing tens of kilos of heroin and cocaine from Holland into the country through Liverpool. He used an EncroChat phone to update the drug bosses on their income, dealing with hundreds of thousands of pounds at a time. 1) Go to our dedicated newsletter page at this link. It operated on customised Android phones and, according to its website, provided "worry-free secure communications". He also pleaded guilty to importation of Class A and B controlled drugs into UK, conspiracy to produce cannabis, conspiracy to convert criminal property for playing a leading role in drug importation, which saw police seize 18kg of cocaine concealed in children's Duplo boxes of Lego. Inside the containers was a dentist chair with straps and handcuffs. Latest London news, business, sport, showbiz and entertainment from the London Evening Standard. 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. The authorities seized over two tons of drugs, dozens of guns, and around 54m in cash. 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. The above nine . 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. Sam Lewis, 30, of Mardale Road, Huyton, was sentenced to 12 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, ketamine and cannabis between March 20 and June 3 last year.. READ MORE: EncroChat boss 'KeySilver' stockpiled drugs over lockdown fears. Liverpool transfer news, rumours, gossip and speculation including updates on Roberto Firmino, Manuel Locatelli, Naby Keita and Mason Mount. 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. ", Liverpool transfer news LIVE - Jude Bellingham boost, Goncalo Inacio scouted, Moises Caicedo decision. In March 2021 Motherboard published details from a cache of emails, Encrochat Lawyers Say Clients Haven't Had Fair Trials, The Network: How a Secretive Phone Company Helped the Crime World Go Dark, charged with conspiracy to murder and cocaine trafficking, have not received fair trials due to the intense secrecy. 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. . The hacking of the network was compared to cracking the enigma code by Nikki Holland, then director of investigations at the NCA.