39 Drug Dealers Brought Down in Massive East Midlands EncroChat Bust
A whopping 39 criminals have faced justice after the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) cracked open a massive drug ring using the encrypted chat app EncroChat. The investigation started in April 2020, following the global takedown of the secret platform.
Encrypted Chats Fuelled Huge Cocaine and Heroin Supply
Many of those sentenced used EncroChat to organise the movement of kilos of cocaine and heroin, mainly from January to September 2020. Police seized data from the platform that exposed a vast drug network stretching across the UK and even overseas.
Six Sentenced Today—Major Players Exposed
On Friday, six defendants copped sentences: Mark Corbett (42), Darren Corbett (50), Craig Waterhouse (60), Kane Farrell (29), Dorrell Phillip-Potter (32), and Steven Kelly (38). Kenneth Laffey (56) was sentenced last Thursday.
Key Roles in the Drug Operation Revealed
- Mark Corbett: Mastermind moving huge amounts of class A drugs and criminal cash nationwide.
- Darren Corbett: Acted as Mark’s courier.
- Craig Waterhouse: Supplied some class A drugs and moved cash as a courier.
- Kane Farrell: Distributed drugs onward; caught with more cocaine and £160,000 cash.
- Dorrell Phillip-Potter: Also supplied drugs further down the chain.
- Steven Kelly: Couried class A drugs between Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire & northwest England; found with 2kg of amphetamine.
- Kenneth Laffey: Associate of Mark Corbett; caught with large cannabis stash and related paperwork.
Stiff Sentences Handed Out
- Mark Corbett (from Cheshire): 17½ years for conspiracy to supply cocaine and transferring criminal cash.
- Darren Corbett (Stretford, Greater Manchester): 8 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine and cash offences.
- Craig Waterhouse (Rossendale, Lancashire): 9 years after trial for cocaine supply and handling criminal property.
- Kane Farrell (Wigston): 6 years 9 months for cocaine supply, possession, and cash crimes.
- Dorrell Phillip-Potter (Barkbythorpe): 6 years 8 months for conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin.
- Steven Kelly (Nottinghamshire): 7 years 6 months for conspiracy and possession related to cocaine, heroin, and amphetamines.
- Kenneth Laffey (Stretford): 16 months suspended, 100 hours community work, and £1,200 costs for cannabis possession with intent.
This crackdown lays bare the extent of the UK’s drug gangs exploiting encrypted tech to evade police—and proves law enforcement is closing in fast.
