TWO Warrington men are amongst eight arrested by the National Crime Agency last Thursday in connection with an organised crime group dealing Class A and B drugs and money laundering.
Wesley Campbell, 37, of Castle Green and Carl Pickering, 39, of Hughes Avenue both Warrington, have been charged in relation to an Operation Venetic investigation into the importation and supply of cocaine and cannabis, money laundering and a conspiracy to supply a firearm.
Operation Venetic is the UK law enforcement response to the takedown of encrypted comms platform EncroChat.
Campbell of Castle Green, Warrington has been charged with conspiracy to fraudulently evade the prohibition on importation of cocaine, conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to conceal, disguise, covert, transfer or remove criminal property (Money Laundering)
Pickering aged 39 of Hughes Avenue, Warrington, has been charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to conceal, disguise, covert, transfer or remove criminal property (Money Laundering).
They have been charged alongside Craig Gallagher, 34, of Inchcape Road, Christopher Van Maren, 39, of Rhodesia Road, Marcus Allen, 27, of Grey Road, Liam Reynolds, 25, of Mount Road and Kevin Boyle, 40, of Warbreck Road, all Liverpool and David Jones, 37, of Harvey Avenue, Newton-le-Willows.
All defendants will appear at Liverpool Crown Court on 15 October.
