'Polite young man' unmasked as Encrochat dealer who flogged drugs and luxury Mercedes to live lavish lifestyle

A 'polite young man' has been unmasked as an Encrochat drug dealer who traded cars for drugs in a huge cocaine and amphetamine operation.

Remez Caffrey, 24, from Moston, sold drugs under the name 'FrostJacket' with his co-defendant John Chean, 33.

They were found using the handle to deal class A and B drugs up and down the country and pictured living a lavish lifestyle.

In messages recovered following a Europe-wide hack into Encrochat, a system used exclusively by members of organised crime groups to plan criminal activities, they were caught discussing buying and selling drugs.

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In one exchange, they admitted to another user that the account was used ‘for work’.

And in another they arranged to meet a man to trade a 20 plate Mercedes for 18kg of amphetamine in Moston.

Caffrey and Chean have now both been jailed for a total of almost 20 years.

Minshull Street Crown Court heard that both were using the handle ‘FrostJacket’ to buy and sell cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis throughout the UK.

“There were two messages between 'FrostJacket' and an account called ‘MafiaTies’, with the latter account asking: 'Is this yours or do you share it?' prosecutor Lucy Wright said.

“FrostJacket replied: “No, it’s mine and Rem, obviously we use it for work”.

The prosecutor said that ‘Rem’ was a reference to Caffrey.

From April 4, 2020 to March 4 2021, the handle was used on an almost daily basis, and was in contact with numerous handles over the Encrochat network.

It was clear they were able to obtain ‘large quantities’ of drugs and move them, with both Caffrey and Chean acting as purchaser, supplier and even middle men, she