A notorious career criminal was caught out by secret Encrochat messages whilst brokering the sale of guns and heroin. Arron Corkovic, 35, was previously jailed in 2013 for his part in a violent robbery in Whitefield, but was released after eight years and bound by strict conditions through a Serious Crime Prevention Order.
But, within a year, he turned to a new venture, prosecutor Laura Barbour told Manchester Crown Court.
Using the handle ‘Stealthy’ on an Encrochat phone, he sent messages to various criminals about supplying a kilo of heroin as well as supplying highly dangerous firearms and lethal ammunition. His crimes were rumbled following a Europe-wide hack in 2020 by authorities into the Encrochat system, used exclusively by members of organised crime groups to plan criminal activities.
READ MORE:
Now, Corkovic, of Salford, has been jailed for 13 years after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and intentionally encouraging or assisting in the commission of an offence (namely to transfer a firearm).
The court heard that messages were recovered between March and June 2020, during which Corkovic talked to others about his direct access to drugs in the Netherlands and Spain.
Using both Encrochat and Wickr, he discussed the sale of significant quantities of heroin and firearms for onward sale.
One message said: “I can get a taster of that nasty (heroin) to pass out to a few kids before the restrictions kick in”. Messages indicated he could source heroin for £17k per kilo, and he added: “Like you said, part of the fun, whats money really worth, f*** it fun and games.”
Speaking to MaseratiRick, he said: “Yeah man, told this kid 18k, see what he says.” And to another user he said: “Mint wages at the min” in reference to the sale of drugs.
There were also messages discussing transport, location drop offs and codewords for those collecting the cash and drugs, Ms Barbour said.
She said Corkovic was also looking to create his own street supply in Warrington.
The court also heard of a number of messages between Corkovic and ‘AssassinsCreed’, which was being used by Umair Zaheer. Zaheer was jailed earlier this year for his involvement in sourcing guns and drug dealing through Encrochat .
Zaheer provided an advert for a number of highly dangerous firearms and a large amount of ammunition which was intended to cause ‘maximum harm’. Corkovic began acting as a ‘broker’ and attempted to find a buyer for some of the guns.
Messages showed he was aware of how a transaction would take place, he discussed the prospect of ‘metal’ (firearms) with potential buyers and suggested various prices. Prosecutors said he was acting as the go-between.
“In one message exchange, he said he bought a Grand Power automatic for £8,000 which he said he could ‘make into a machine’. And in another message he said he was asking £10,000 for a Scorpion machine gun,” Ms Barbour said.
Throughout the exchange Corkovic kept Zaheer updated on various buyers for the firearms and they also discussed selling to a ‘Jock group’ .
“The messages demonstrated the defendants ongoing interest and role in the transaction of firearms and drug dealing,” the prosecutor added.
He was eventually arrested at a hotel on October 24 2021, and gave a prepared statement in which he denied both offences.
Corkovic was said to have previous convictions for serious offending, including a robbery and blackmail for which he was jailed for 13 years.
Mitigating, Oliver Cook said: “By way of his plea, he was involved as a transactor which amounted to one kilo of heroin and he was paid £1,500. This defendant’s role in that conspiracy is limited to that transaction and limited to that profit. He acted as a broker between two parties. He was never in possession of a firearm himself. He doesn’t shy away from being a career criminal. He now has a child. His partner was heavily pregnant at the time of these offences.”
Sentencing, the Recorder of Manchester, Judge Nicholas Dean KC said: “It’s perfectly fair to say you have been a career criminal. You were brokering the sale of heroin and assisting in the transfer of a prohibited weapon. This was facilitated by the use of an Encrochat phone.
“You have been a career criminal and your personal mitigation has no significant consequence. You will appreciate that sentences will only get longer and longer.”
Corkovic, of Dixon Avenue, was jailed for 13 years.
DC Steven Walker in GMP’s Organised Crime Unit said: “The conviction of Arron Corkovic is another significant result arising from the compromise of the Encrochat network – a communications network utilised exclusively by organised crime groups.
“Despite spending the best part of his twenties in prison, Corkovic has demonstrated his intention to continue where he left off in what he anticipated would be a lucrative alternative to being a law-abiding citizen.
“Even after being given the benefit of an early release under licence conditions, he immediately became involved once again in the most serious of crimes that cause the most harm to our communities – selling heroin, firearms and ammunition.
“Having enjoyed a short period of freedom, he is now paying the price for his decision.
“GMP will continue to investigate and prosecute offenders for their participation in the Encrochat network under Operation Venetic and I would like to thank our partners, the National Crime Agency (NCA), for their assistance.
“I would also like to acknowledge the hard work of the Crown Prosecution Service and Counsel in this case for bringing it to a satisfactory conclusion."
READ NEXT:
