Two alleged gangland figures accused of links to EncroChat enabled drug trafficking have been arrested in Amsterdam.
An international operation involving the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Dutch police saw the men apprehended in the Dutch capital during the past week.
According to NWROCU, the two men were wanted in connection with Operation Venetic - the UK arm of the international operation targeting organised criminals using the EncroChat encrypted phone network, hacked by French authorities in 2020.
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One of the suspects, a 59-year-old man from West Derby, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin, and conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin outside the jurisdiction (Scotland).
The second man, described as a 35-year-old from Anfield, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis, conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited weapons, conspiracy to possess ammunition and conspiracy to import cocaine.
Detective Inspector Dave Worthington, from the NWROCU's Operations Team, said: "There is no such place as a safe haven for fugitives on the run. It does not matter where in the world they flee to, the NCA and its partners have the expertise to track them down and bring them back to the UK to face justice.
"We have been wanting to speak to this pair since June 2020 when the Encrochat platform was taken down. We are now working with the NCA and European authorities, so he can be extradited to the UK."
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