The Encrochat gang responsible for the biggest ever gun trafficking conspiracy and drugs racket in the UK

A ‘sophisticated and organised’ Encrochat gang responsible for the biggest ever gun trafficking conspiracy and drugs racket are facing hefty jail terms. In a sentence hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court, the six men were hauled into the dock as prosecutors outlined the nature of their crimes.

The Manchester based organised crime group were involved in the large scale supply of class A drugs, firearms and ammunition across the country.

“The operation was well funded, selling drugs of high value, with well established connections across the country,” prosecutor Neil Fryman said.

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The group were selling kilos of cocaine worth between £36,000 and £40,500 per kilo of cocaine at wholesale level, to be distributed onto streets of Manchester, the North West, North East, London and Scotland.

Ledgers were kept in the notes of their encrypted devices including sales, the value of the business, as well as nicknames for customers, quantities and pricing.

In one particular ledger kept by ‘payyabills’, used by Mohammed Omar Malik, showed that between January 13 2020 and May 16 2020 there were sales of 739 kilos of cocaine. The cocaine was compounded and of high imported quality.

The drugs were worth around £25 million wholesale, and with an estimated street value of £70 million, the court heard.

“This was a level of drug supply rarely encountered by law enforcement,” the prosecutor said.

“This meant an extensive customer base, which took a lot of time and effort to establish. Not only in the UK but abroad, and involved the organising, the