Drugs Boss Busted: West Derby Man Jailed Over £1.8m Cocaine and Heroin Haul
Michael Devine from Pete Best Drive, West Derby, is behind bars for 17 years and 3 months after pleading guilty to importing and supplying huge amounts of Class A and B drugs. Liverpool Crown Court sentenced him on Monday 23 August.
Secret Chats Expose High-Flying Drug Smuggler
Using the EncroChat handle ‘Lawfularbor’, Devine masterminded the importation and distribution of cocaine, heroin, ketamine, and amphetamine straight from his home. Cops uncovered how he plotted the sneaky smuggling using airfields, light aircraft, and even fake mayday landings to slip drugs into the UK.
He also planned to hide drugs in boats to dodge detection. Last year, Devine smuggled 8kg of cocaine disguised as car parts via UPS – a crafty move that eventually led to his arrest by Merseyside Police in July.
Operation Venetic Smashes Drug Networks
- More than 140 arrests made
- 112 charged
- 37 jailed for over 420 years combined across Merseyside
- £1.8 million cash and 110kg of drugs seized
- Four firearms and ammunition recovered
Operation Venetic, a nationwide crackdown sparked by European police hacking EncroChat, has exposed scores of criminal networks using encrypted phones to trade drugs and firearms.
Detective Inspector Lee Wilkinson Speaks Out
“Today we see another sentencing thanks to Operation Venetic, which cracked the ‘encrochat’ network criminals relied on to run their dangerous trade.
“Devine was supplying massive quantities of illegal drugs and raking in huge profits. His days of dodging justice are well and truly over.”
Investigations continue under the Proceeds of Crime Act to seize further assets linked to drug trafficking. Police warn that more dealers are in the sights following this relentless campaign against organised crime.
