A man from Liverpool is the latest to be sentenced as part of Operation Venetic – an international investigation into the use of a mobile encryption service, commonly referred to as Encrochat.
Joseph Sullivan aged 43 of Liverpool was jailed for 12 years at Liverpool Crown Court last week (Friday 17 June) after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs.
Examination of the data from the encrypted phone identified that Sullivan was the user of the device/ handle ‘BAT-CUB’ and that he had been responsible for buying and selling multi kilograms of cocaine and cannabis, worth more than £375,000.
Detective Sergeant Adam Smith from the Operations Team at the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit said, “The sentencing of SULLIVAN will undoubtedly have resulted in significant disruption to the supply of Class A and B drugs in Merseyside.
“He was a key member of his organised crime group, buying and selling multi-kilo amounts of drugs and often as a ‘middle man’ between suppliers where he would negotiate prices between other organised crime groups.
“This is the latest in a long line of convictions secured against those who used the Encrochat facility to carry out crimes, to try and evade detection.
“Here at the NWROCU we’re committed to targeting the supply of drugs and will leave no stone unturned.”
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