Rolex watches, designer clothes and £70,000 in cash was seized when police raided the homes of three EncroChat dealers.
Ashley Moorcroft, aka "RustyPalace", was involved in importing cocaine, heroin, cannabis and amphetamine, then supplying it across the UK. He worked closely with Jonathan McKeown, aka "BushTern", who brokered deals for the drugs up and down the country, and kept a "meticulously recorded" ledger, showing more than £1m in cash changing hands.
Painter and decorator Craig Murray, aka "MicroBlue" and formerly "ZanyForce", transported drugs and cash in vehicles with concealed "slots" or "hides". But all three men are now starting long jail sentences after the EncroChat hack of 2020 stopped them spreading "abject misery" for significant profits.
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Liverpool Crown Court heard Moorcroft, 33, was arrested at his home in Halsnead, Wavertree on May 6, 2021, when his partner and children were present. Police seized £8,925 in cash, four Rolex watches, one Kenevo specialised electric bike and charger, and designer clothing and shoes. Merseyside Police said they also recovered an Audi.
McKeown, 36, was arrested when officers raided his home in Marlborough Road, Waterloo that same day. They recovered £12,750 in cash.
Murray, 41, was twice arrested, firstly on June 17, 2020, when £36,710 was found at his Simonscroft, Netherton home. On May 6, 2021, officers struck again, when a further £14,000 in cash was seized.
Jamie Baxter, prosecuting, said RustyPalace (Moorcroft) was a "senior figure" in the conspiracy "involved in the importation of both Class A and B drugs from outside of the UK", then their onward supply. He said MicroBlue (Murray) was a "valued resource" who worked predominantly alongside Moorcroft, but also with others to transport drugs and cash.
The court heard he did this by using "sophisticated methods of concealment" referred to as "slots" in vehicles consisting of "manufactured hides". Evidence showed he carried out this role for a "wage".
Mr Baxter said BushTern (McKeown) operated at a similar level to Moorcroft and "was involved in the commercial and almost daily supply of Class A and B drugs, sourcing and brokering multi-kilogram transactions within the UK". He added: "The notes section of the BushTern device acted as a drugs supply ledger, which was meticulously recorded and spanned approximately 93 pages."
Mr Baxter said the earliest entry on the notes was for September 6, 2019, which predated the conspiracy period between March 20, 2020 and May 31, 2020 when the EncroChat data was captured, but indicated his criminality. He said: "There is reference to 'tops' [kilo amounts of cocaine], different strains of cannabis and significant quantities of cash, over £1,000,000, which has been 'passed'."
Mr Baxter said Moorcroft had 111 different handles stored in the contact list of his device and had contacted 48 of them during the conspiracy period. He said this gave "an insight into the level and geographical reach of his criminality and associates".
The prosecutor said messages referred to consignments "such as up to 10 'tops'" being collected and showed Moorcroft's foreign contacts. McKeown had stored 57 handles, all of whom he communicated with during the period.
The ECHO has previously reported how the BushTern handle directed Walton cocaine, heroin and cannabis dealer Jacob Bullen, aka "HeroicFox". He is serving an 11 years and eight months sentence.
Mr Baxter said: "The evidence reveals that BushTern (McKeown) and RustyPalace (Moorcroft) conspire together and, at times, coordinate the supply of drugs within the UK using their network of couriers and associates. Between March 30, 2020 and May 27, 2020, 1,475 messages are exchanged between them."
Murray had 45 handles in his contact list and had spoken with 26. Mr Baxter said: "The evidence in the data also reveals Mr Murray appeared to have a legitimate job as a painter and decorator alongside his criminal activities."
All three men gave no comment interviews to the police, but later admitted conspiring to supply cocaine, cannabis and amphetamine. Moorcroft and McKeown also admitted conspiring to supply heroin.
Moorcroft's four previous convictions for seven offences included producing amphetamine in 2014, when he was jailed for six and a half years. McKeown had one past conviction for one offence, while Murray had two previous convictions for two offences.
Judge Andrew Menary, QC, said the EncroChat messages revealed the plots involved "very large, multi-kilo quantities of drugs". He said: "Bearing in mind the nature of the commodity involved and the abject misery that is caused by its consumption, the tone and content of these messages is remarkably mundane.
"That is because, despite the highly criminal nature of these discussions, despite the quantities involved and the profits being made, despite the high stakes for which each of you was playing, you and your fellow EncroChat users thought that your activities would never come to light."
Prosecutors alleged Moorcroft was involved in the supply of at least 23.5kg of Class A and 266kg of Class B drugs. Grahame James, defending Moorcroft, argued while there was discussion about that quantity of Class A drugs, only 8kg were actually shown to have been supplied.
Judge Menary said not all of the potential sales may have been completed on a particular occasion or to a particular customer, but Moorcroft was "actively marketing" the drugs and "sooner or later, in some way or another, these would have become completed transactions". Noting the cash and Rolexes found at his home, the judge said Moorcroft played a "leading role" and must have expected substantial financial gain. He jailed him for 19 and a half years.
McKeown accepted trading in 60kg of Class A and 56kg of Class B drugs. Judge Menary concluded that McKeown - whose lawyer Matthew Buckland had suggested there were elements of a lesser "significant role" to his culpability - also played a "leading role". Jailing him for 20 years, he said the messages showed McKeown was "very busy" and "active on most days".
The judge said Murray worked with and for Moorcroft, transporting drugs and cash across the UK for a "wage", which he fitted around his legitimate day job. He jailed him for eight and a half years.
Speaking after the case, Detective Sergeant Dan Pilling said: "McKeown, Moorcroft and Murray clearly never suspected that police would uncover their messages and plans to sell and supply their vast quantities of drugs that could have endangered families and residents in our communities. They used the pandemic to enjoy a lavish lifestyle at the expense of vulnerable people across the country.
"These lengthy jail terms prove that crime does not pay, and we are committed in stopping those who try to profit from the sale of illegal drugs. Despite the increasing number of people sentenced for these crimes across Merseyside our work still continues along with law enforcement agencies across the world, to pursue anyone who tries to forge a lifestyle that destroys lives and families.
"Serious organised crime is not a lifestyle of choice and we will target anyone involved to ensure it is stamped out of our streets, businesses and communities."
