A number of criminals have been caged in Scotland after French authorities cracked the highly encrypted EncroChat messaging service in 2020.
Gangsters, drug lords, weapons dealers and county lines runners have been rounded up after their dodgy dealings were exposed on the app.
The Record’s new series will explore Scotland’s biggest encrochat busts – and the individuals behind the deals who believed they were untouchable.
“Elpazzo” and the Wonka bars
Aaron Bradford was the first person in Scotland to be convicted following a trial using EncroChat evidence.
The drug trafficker, who operated under the EncroChat handle “Elpazzo”, was caught flooding the country with cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis laced ‘Wonka’ chocolate bars.
The 35-year-old believed his conversations about his drugs empire were hidden from law enforcement on the encrypted platform. But French authorities infiltrated the messaging service, favoured by criminals and gangsters.
The breakthrough triggered Operation Venetic – a UK-wide investigation that exposed organised crime groups operating across Europe.
Bradford, from Dundee, was jailed for eight years at the High Court in Aberdeen after being found guilty of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs.
The court heard Bradford was involved in plans to distribute significant quantities of cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis products, including cannabis-laced “Wonka” chocolate bars.
Investigators uncovered messages in which he discussed a £17,000 drugs deal. He also flaunted a photograph of a large block of cocaine while using the messaging platform.
Police raided his home in June 2020 as part of Operation Venetic. Detectives recovered equipment linked to large-scale drug dealing.
They also seized a blender, hydraulic press and digital scales, along with paperwork detailing drug debts, customer names and amounts owed.
The offences were aggravated by a connection to serious organised crime, with prosecutors also beginning confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover any criminal profits.
The case was the first of many to follow, with Encrochat communications forming evidence for some of the biggest crime busts.
Following the sentencing, Sineidin Corrins, Deputy Procurator Fiscal for Specialist Casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “This was a coordinated effort to release a sizable quantity of drugs into Dundee.
“But now, thanks to the efforts of Police Scotland and COPFS, this individual faces a lengthy prison sentence.
“We will continue to target all those who threaten communities across Scotland, not only drug couriers but also those who direct their movements.
“With each case of this kind we can help reduce the harm these drugs inflict on those communities.
“COPFS will continue working with the police and other agencies as a member of Scotland’s Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce to ensure that these crimes are detected and those responsible prosecuted using all measures at our disposal.
“Proceeds of Crime proceedings have now been commenced to ensure the profits obtained through criminal conduct are confiscated.”
Detective Inspector Julia Ogilvie, of Police Scotland’s Organised Crime Unit in Dundee, said the case highlighted the success of international cooperation against organised crime.
She said: “There is no doubt the excellent working partnership between law enforcement agencies is paying dividends.
“We will continue to carry out systematic, targeted operations which lead to arrests and cause significant disruption to the criminal fraternity. This sentencing underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy.
“We remain committed to our fight against those involved in serious and organised crime to ensure our communities are safe.”
EncroChat was an encrypted communications service marketed as offering complete privacy through modified mobile phones with disappearing messages and a remote “panic wipe” function.
Although owning an EncroChat handset was not illegal, the platform became widely used by organised crime groups across Europe. In 2020, French investigators infiltrated the network, allowing police to read messages exchanged by thousands of users and leading to hundreds of arrests under Operation Venetic.
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