Drug Dealer ‘PalacePuma’ Busted in Merseyside Sting
Anthony Lonergan, 25, faced Liverpool Crown Court for conniving to flood Merseyside with Class A and B drugs. His downfall came after police caught him using the encrypted EncroChat handle ‘palacepuma’.
Encrypted Phones Exposed Massive Drug Operation
Lonergan didn’t work alone. He used secret encrypted devices to buy huge amounts of drugs, then sold them across Merseyside via his ‘graft’ phones. He admitted to conspiracy charges involving cocaine, cannabis (including resin), and ketamine.
Between March and June 2020, he was tied to dealing a staggering 3.8kg of cocaine, 76kg of cannabis, and 3kg of ketamine.
Police Urge Public To Snitch
“Our work to find those responsible for supplying Class A and B drugs in Merseyside continues,” said Detective Inspector Mike Dalton.
“We rely on our local communities to be our eyes and ears. I urge anyone with information to come forward and help us.”
