Drug-Dealing Brothers Caught in Massive Police Sting
Martin Peter Grant, 33, and his younger brother Liam, 25, both from Old Swan, Liverpool, have been locked up for a combined 19 years for running a family drug empire. Martin was sentenced to 14 years and six months today at Liverpool Crown Court for conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs including heroin, cocaine, cannabis, and ketamine.
Liam was jailed last month for four years and six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, cannabis, and ketamine.
Operation Venetic Takes Down Dark Web Dealers
The brothers were caught as part of Merseyside Police’s Operation Venetic, a major crackdown on criminals using the encrypted mobile service Encrochat to dodge law enforcement.
Martin, using the alias “Swiftorchid,” ran the family business on the dark web, while Liam went by “Beigepalm.” Police uncovered incriminating messages and photos exchanged between the pair, which revealed their drug trafficking plans and even schemes to disguise drug shipments as emergency workers with fake ambulance jackets bought off eBay.
“Mate about 15 of us here now for her bday” and “Or don’t you know any girls who are carers or buy an ambulance jacket off eBay and never get pulled,” one message read.
Strong Evidence Brings Drug Lords to Justice
Detective Sergeant Graeme Kehoe said, “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.”
He added, “Operation Venetic is still exposing criminals who believed they could avoid detection by using encrypted devices.”
The arrests smashed not only a serious organised crime network but also disrupted street-level drug deals and county lines operations exploiting vulnerable young people in the region.
Detectives urge anyone with information to contact Merseyside Police Crime Command on Twitter @MerPolCC or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
