Merseyside Drug Dealer Busted Over Cheese Snap
A Liverpool man has been jailed for over 13 years after a block of cheese helped nail him. Carl Stewart, 39, from Gem Street, Liverpool, was sentenced to 13 years and six months at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, 21 May.
‘Toffeeforce’ Caught by Fingerprints on Cheese Pic
Stewart, who went by the handle ‘Toffeeforce’ on the encrypted EncroChat app, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, MDMA, ketamine, and transferring criminal property. Authorities tracked him down after he shared a photo of a block of Stilton cheese in his palm. Forensics analysed his fingerprints from the picture, securing his identity.
Operation Venetic Cracks EncroChat Crime Network
EncroChat, used by around 60,000 criminals worldwide—including 10,000 in the UK—is a hotspot for plotting drug deals, weapons trafficking, and money laundering. The crackdown is part of Operation Venetic, a massive police swoop after European forces cracked the encrypted network.
“Carl Stewart was caught out by his love of Stilton cheese,” said Detective Inspector Lee Wilkinson. “Merseyside Police have arrested over 60 people so far, many facing serious drug or firearms charges. This sentence sends a clear message: crime doesn’t pay.”
Wilkinson added: “We will leave no stone unturned in hunting down those involved in organised crime. This is a warning to anyone thinking they’re above the law.”
