Old Swan Drug Kingpin Locked Up for 14 Years
Martin Peter Grant, 33, of Davidson Road, Old Swan, has been slammed with a hefty 14 years and six months behind bars. The Liverpool Crown Court sentenced him today after he admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs—heroin and cocaine—and Class B drugs including cannabis and ketamine.
Brother also Jailed for Drug Dealing
Martin won’t be doing time alone. His younger brother, Liam Grant, 25, was sentenced just last month to four years and six months for conspiracy to supply cocaine, cannabis, and ketamine. Both were arrested last September during a major Merseyside Police crackdown on drug networks.
Operation Venetic Takes Down Dark Web Dealers
The brothers were caught as part of Operation Venetic, an international sting targeting criminals using Encrochat—a mobile encryption app—to dodge the law. Martin, operating under the dark web alias “Swiftorchid,” ran the family drugs business. Liam, known as “Beigepalm,” was his right-hand man.
Police uncovered their identity through intercepted messages and photos shared on Encrochat. One chilling lockdown message from Martin said, “Lovely son isn’t it just in the mother’s,” hinting at their shameless brazen attitude.
Ambulance Jackets and Dark Web Tricks
Detectives discovered messages revealing their cunning plans to smuggle drugs disguised as emergency workers. Martin suggested buying ambulance jackets off eBay or posing as carers to evade police checks. “Or don’t you know any girls who are carers or buy an ambulance jacket off eBay and never get pulled,” one message read.
“The fact that the Grant brothers pleaded guilty again demonstrates the strength of evidence that we have to bring drug dealers who used Encrochat to justice and prevent them from flooding the streets with drugs,” said Detective Sergeant Graeme Kehoe.
“Operation Venetic is still exposing criminals who believed they could avoid detection by using encrypted devices. By putting the Grant brothers behind bars, we’ve hit not just their organised crime network but also the street-level dealing and county lines targeting vulnerable youths.”
“I hope this sends a clear message: we will keep hunting criminals and locking them up.”
Anyone with tips can message @MerPolCC on Twitter or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
