Three members of an EncroChat drug gang made £182,000 in three months trafficking cocaine and heroin out of Liverpool.
Between April 1, 2020 and June 10, 2020, the group trafficked the Class A drugs out of Liverpool into Preston, Carlisle and into Scotland.
The group's kingpin, Wesley Harriot, 29, used encrypted mobile phones known as EncroChat phones to communicate with his associates to organise the distribution of heroin and cocaine.
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Harriot's role within the gang was to organise 11 drugs runs where he instructed couriers Paul Harrison and Shaun Burns to collect and distribute drugs from Liverpool, transporting them to Preston, Carlisle and Scotland.
In total 7kg of cocaine and 5kg of heroin were distributed at a wholesale price of between £264,000 and £405,580.
On average the drugs lines were making £2,000 a day and over the three month period made a total of £182,000.
The gang members were arrested and charged as part of Operation Silk which targets the supply of Class A drugs.
They were charged with conspiracy to supply a Class A drug – cocaine and conspiracy to supply a Class A drug – heroin.
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Appearing in Preston Crown Court on Thursday, September 30, the trio were jailed for man than 22 years.
Harriot, 29, of no fixed address, was given an 11 and a half years. Burns, 29, of Parkfield Crescent, Lea, Preston was jailed for five years and four months and Harrison, 34, of no fixed address, was sentenced to six years.
Det Insp Roger Ashcroft, of Lancashire Police, said: “We are committed to tackling and disrupting drug-dealing activity and protecting vulnerable members of society.
“We would encourage anyone concerned about criminal activity in their area to contact the police, knowing that we will act on that information and take the appropriate action.”
Anyone with concerns about drug-dealing or any other criminal activity in their area can call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted, in confidence, on 0800 555 111.
A Proceeds of Crime Application has been made and scheduled for February 2022.
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