Drug Dealer ‘Sickmallet’ Slapped with Nearly 12 Years in Jail
Adam Lonergan, aka ‘Sickmallet’, from Rydal Avenue, Prescot, has been locked up for 11 years and eight months at Liverpool Crown Court. He was found guilty of conspiring to supply cocaine, heroin, and cannabis across Merseyside.
Encrypted Chat Trap Snags Merseyside’s Big Drug Dealers
Lonergan’s criminal empire was busted after police cracked the encrypted EncroChat network used by serious gangs. Caught in an extensive probe, the 33-year-old was arrested on March 16 with a haul of cash found at his home. He’s one of seven Merseyside men sentenced so far in this major takedown involving European law enforcement, the National Crime Agency, and multiple UK police forces.
Operation Venetic: 102 Arrested in UK-Wide Organised Crime Crackdown
EncroChat, a secret messaging service, had around 60,000 users worldwide — 10,000 in the UK alone — all locked in running drugs, weapons, and money laundering networks. Detective Inspector Chris Lowe said:
“Today’s sentencing shows how seriously we take organised criminals who flood Merseyside with deadly drugs. Lonergan made a fortune from pushing class A and B substances, but now he’ll have time to think about the damage he caused.”
He added:
“Lonergan thought his encrypted phone would keep him hidden. He was wrong — and he won’t be the last.”
So far, Operation Venetic has led to 102 arrests in the Merseyside area, with 71 charged with serious drug or firearms offences. More prosecutions are ongoing as cops continue to clamp down on organised crime.
Community Plea: Help Police Stamp Out Drug Dealing
If you spot suspicious drug activity, don’t stay silent. Contact Merseyside Police at @MerPolCC, call 101, or report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Always ring 999 if a crime is happening right now.
Merseyside’s streets are safer today thanks to this huge operation — but the fight against organised crime is far from over.
