Two men identified as major drug traffickers after chatting about their kids on EncroChat devices are starting huge prison sentences.
William Davidson, 39, and his right-hand man Steven Gorry, 47, were linked to the supply of 108kg of cocaine and 14kg of heroin arranged via the encrypted phone network, which was hacked by French and Dutch crime fighters in 2020.
The men were involved in the large scale supply of commercial quantities of drugs between March and June, 2020, and also arranged for their product to be cut with adulterants to increase their profits. The drugs were then supplied within Merseyside and across the UK, with significant quantities smuggled to the North East.
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The pair were collared as part of a North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) investigation into EncroChat accounts using the handles 'WoodenJay, 'RainBonsai' and 'RacyBike'. The detectives on the case knew the handles were discussing huge drug deals, and were involved in a plan to import 76 kilos of cocaine from the Netherlands, but they then had to identify the men behind the devices.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Davidson, of Baytree Grove, Melling, and Gorry, of Yew Tree Road, Walton, made things considerably easier for the detectives by sharing personal information in their messages. Davidson had a child during the lockdown period, and shared photos of his new baby on the network.
Gorry also discussed home-schooling his children during the pandemic and shared information which hinted at his identity.
Davidson was soon identified as the user behind 'WoodenJay' and 'RainBonsai', while Gorry used the 'RacyBike' handle. The pair were arrested in raids in December, 2021, when large quantities of cash, expensive watches and a number of electric scooters and bikes were seized.
Both admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today for sentence. Davidson was jailed for 18 years and nine months, while Gorry was locked up for 16 years and six months.
Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Dave Worthington from the NWROCU operations team said: "Davidson and Gorry's encrypted messages detailed their clear involvement in drug conspiracies that would have caused suffering and misery to residents in Merseyside. The evidence against them was so overwhelming that they both pled guilty so they didn't have to face trial and potentially longer behind bars.
“We know the destruction that drug supply causes to our communities and together with our partners we remain relentless in our pursuit of these criminals and to bring down serious and organised criminal groups."
"If you have any information or concerns about drug supply in your area, which you think might help our investigations into the drugs trade across the North West, then please call police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always dial 999 in an emergency."
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