THREE members of an organised crime group which oversaw the supply and distribution of significant quantities of illegal drugs have been jailed for a combined 55 years.
Paul Dillon and Alexander Keating used the encrypted messaging service EncroChat to discuss the transfer of a viable firearm and communicated with Dylan Garforth to supply class A and B drugs.
The trio were caught by detectives from Cheshire Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit after they were able to access the communications network that is used exclusively by criminals.
The bespoke service was cracked by international law enforcement in May 2020, with detectives monitoring their criminal communications and gathering evidence over a three-month period.
Dillion, of Norlands Park in Widnes, used the codename ‘Wasplawn’ to communicate with Keating, of Lunts Heath Road in Widnes, who used the handles ‘Dulltuna’ and ‘Wealthymace’.
Garforth, of no fixed address, called himself ‘Dior-Ice’ on the encrypted service.
A warrant was executed at 32-year-old Dillion’s address on June 30 last year, where police seized almost £30,000 in cash.
On October 15, Keating, 30, and Garforth, 25, were arrested at Liverpool John Lennon Airport as they were about to travel to Spain.
Keating pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply 30kg of high purity cocaine and large amounts of cannabis, while Dillon admitted conspiring to supply 3kg of high purity cocaine, large amounts of ketamine and the supply of more than half a million pounds worth of cannabis.
The pair also admitted to conspiracy to transfer a firearm, while Garforth pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply 10kg of high purity cocaine.
Appearing at Chester Crown Court yesterday, Wednesday, Dillion was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Keating was handed a sentence of 22 years and five months in custody and Garforth was given a 15-year sentence.
Following their sentencing, DCI Mike Evans said: “These men were part of an organised crime group and were involved in the supply and distribution of significant quantities of class A and class B drugs.
“They were well known to the local community for their sustained campaign of anti-social and criminal behaviour, which began in their teenage years and progressed to the offences that they have now been convicted for.
“The amount of money found wrapped in bundles of up £10,000 at Dillon’s home provides an insight into how much profit was being earned, and how the transfer of a viable firearm was also involved in this criminality.
“The encrypted device was previously perceived as being an untouchable way of communicating freely about criminality without being detected by police.
“Once it was cracked by law enforcement, it meant those using it would find it almost impossible to deny their involvement in serious and organised crime.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here