A WARRINGTON-based organised crime gang has been handed a combined prison sentence of 55 years and 5 months after being convicted of facilitating drugs and firearms offences using the encrypted communication platform EncroChat. The gang members orchestrated a large-scale commercial drugs operation before being caught and brought to justice.
Seven men appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday , Thursday 17 July, to be sentenced for their involvement in the large-scale supply of class A and B drugs.
These included:
• Nathan Simpson, 33, of Birtles Road, Warrington, jailed for 16 years and 2 months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine), two counts of conspiracy to supply class B drugs (amphetamine, cannabis), possession of class B drugs (cannabis),and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence to another.
• Nathan Davies, 33, of Hume Street, Warrington, jailed for 9 years and 8 months for conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis), production of class B drugs (cannabis extracts), possession of class B drugs (cannabis),and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence to another.
• John Lally, 33, of Fairclough Street, Warrington, jailed for 12 years and 4 months years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine), three counts of conspiracy to supply class B drugs (amphetamine and cannabis), possession with intent to supply class A drugs (cocaine), handling stolen goods, encourage and assisting in the commission of an offence, and arson with intent to endanger life.
• Steven Dodd, 33, of Watkin Street, Warrington, jailed for 6 years and 9 months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine), conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis), and possession of class B drugs (cannabis).
• Connor Lawton, 30, of Aspinall Close, Warrington, jailed for 3 years and 4 months for conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis)
• Daniel Roberts, 34, of Sandfields Crescent, Warrington, jailed for 3 years and 6 months for conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis)
• Dominic Bourdet, 40, of Thelwall Lane, Warrington, jailed for 3 years and 8 months for conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis), possession of class B drugs (amphetamine), possession of class B drugs (cannabis)
Operation Havoc is an investigation conducted by Cheshire Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit into the sale and distribution of illegal drugs and firearms offences in Warrington.
The investigation began when international law enforcement officers, working with the National Crime Agency, infiltrated a previously encrypted data system known as EncroChat.
Following the breakthrough officers discovered thousands of messages posted by criminals across the world, each with their own unique username to ensure their anonymity.
An analysis of the data allowed detectives to attribute usernames ‘Gardenfella’, ‘Chillifella’, ‘Silverfella’, ‘Snowyspring’, ‘Stickygreen’ and ‘Greenidol’ to seven of the defendants (Simpson, Davies, Lally, Dodd, Roberts, Bourdet and Lawton), evidencing their involvement in the conspiracy to supply significant quantities of controlled drugs.
The supply network operated at an industrial level, obtaining multi-kilo amounts of cannabis, cocaine, and amphetamine through several sources, predominately from the Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham areas.
Once obtained, the drugs were stored, prepared for onward sale, and later distributed to middle market suppliers, who in turn supplied the drugs to others.
Nathan Simpson, Nathan Davies and John Lally were classed as having leading roles in the crime group. Between them, they made direct contact with upstream suppliers and were involved in the transportation, storage, and distribution of cannabis, cocaine, and amphetamine at a significant scale.
Simpson and Davies shared control of viable firearms and planned drive by shootings of rival OCG members. Simpson also conspired with others with the intention of hiring them to carry out punishment shootings of rival OCG members following a dispute.
Lally was responsible for coordinating the supply and distribution of drugs through subordinates within the OCG. He was involved in the collection and movement of substantial quantities of money and cocaine, reporting directly to Simpson.
Lally was also involved in the dispute with a rival organised crime group and conspired with Simpson and Daniel Roberts to commit grievous bodily harm whereby he planned to set fire to home addresses, vehicles and business premises of rival gang members.
Daniel Roberts, Steven Dodd, Connor Lawton, and Dominic Bourdet were evidenced as having significant roles and were trusted members of the crime group, helping to collect, store and distribute the OCG’s drugs.
From the evidence gathered, experts were able to assess the group’s involvement in the supply of 115.283kg of cannabis, 10.982kg of cocaine, and 63.44kg of amphetamine.
This resulted in warrants being conducted by officers at multiple addresses across Warrington on Wednesday 27 November 2024, and amounted in the arrest of Simpson, Davies, Lally, Dodd, Bourdet, and Roberts.
Lawton was later arrested on Friday 6 December 2024 at Manchester Airport.
During the warrants, officers seized quantities of drugs, cash, mobile phones, and luxury items such as Rolex watches and other designer goods.
The men were subsequently charged, and due to the strength of the evidence against them, all seven OCG members pleaded guilty to their involvement.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Henderson, of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: “Today’s sentencing brings to a close what has been an extremely lengthy and complex investigation, and I welcome the sentences that have been handed to all seven men.
“Davies, Simpson, and Lally were all key players in the large-scale commercial drugs business supplying substantial amounts of cannabis, cocaine, and amphetamine in Warrington and the wider Northwest Region.
“They entrusted their subordinates to assist in the onward sale of the drugs and even conspired to start a war with a rival gang, putting the lives of innocent members of the public at risk while they hid behind the proceeds of their crimes.
“They used EncroChat believing that they could operate under the radar, using an encrypted and sophisticated device that would keep their communication secretive in order to avoid detection.
“However, after EncroChat was infiltrated officers were able to comb through all the messages and reveal their illegal activities, meaning that they are now facing a combined total of 55 years and 5 months behind bars.
“This shows that no matter what you think you are doing to cover your tracks, we are one step ahead. We will do everything we can to make sure that each member of these OCGs pay for the misery that they bring to communities across Cheshire.”
Anyone with information about drug activity in their community is urged to contact Cheshire Police via https://www.cheshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/soh/seen-or-heard/
