A Bromley man involved in the large-scale supply of Class A and B drugs has been sentenced to seven years and nine months in prison.
Michael Hall, 60, of The Chase, Bromley South, was jailed on Wednesday, February 4, after pleading guilty to multiple drug-related offences at Croydon Crown Court.
Cracking the ‘Uncrackable’ EncroChat Network
Hall’s conviction was part of a wider investigation into EncroChat, an encrypted messaging service used by criminals to facilitate drug and firearms transactions.
French and Dutch law enforcement infiltrated the network, passing key intelligence to the Metropolitan Police, revealing Hall’s deep involvement in the drug trade between January and June 2020.
Using the alias ‘Insane Snail’, Hall acted as a middleman, facilitating the supply of:
5kg of cocaine
2kg of amphetamines
8kg of cannabis
6.5kg of ketamine (with discussions to supply an additional 6kg)
Repeat Offender with Long-Standing Drug Trade Links
Hall was no newcomer to the drug business.
- He had previous convictions for drug trafficking, receiving two years in prison in 1997 and eight years in 2011 for supplying cannabis.
- His network included Jack Tahir, 48, from Beckenham, who was jailed for 10 years in 2021 after being linked to over £1 million worth of drugs.
Hall used his contacts to broker deals between suppliers and buyers but, according to the prosecution, received “only a modest markup” for his role.
Financial Struggles Drove Him Back to Crime
Hall was previously hit with a confiscation order in 2019, stripping him of profits from previous drug deals. Facing the potential loss of his home, he turned back to drug dealing to stay afloat financially.
However, Recorder Stanley Reiz KC, who sentenced him, made it clear:
“You made your choices, whatever your reasons, and you must accept the punishment.”
Crackdown on Organised Crime Continues
Hall’s conviction is part of Operation Venetic, the UK’s largest-ever crackdown on organised crime, which has already resulted in hundreds of arrests and convictions linked to EncroChat.
The Met Police continue to target drug networks, urging anyone with information on illegal drug activity to contact police via 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
