MMA Fighter ‘Italian Stallion’ Slapped with 15-Year Jail Term for Running Gun and Drug Cartel
From Octagon to Organised Crime
Pietro Menga, 36, better known as ‘The Italian Stallion’ in the MMA world, has been locked up for more than 15 years. The mixed martial artist’s secret second life as a criminal middleman was smashed by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), thanks to the takedown of Encrochat — the encrypted messaging app that criminals thought was foolproof.
Exposed on Encrochat
Under the codename ‘wirelessshark’, Menga was caught red-handed plotting huge cocaine deals and illegal firearms trades. Authorities linked him to deals worth a staggering £620,000 in cocaine and uncovered what they’ve called a record-breaking firearms conspiracy.
Menga’s double life shocked many: while fighting in the ring, he was secretly brokering deals in high-purity cocaine and automatic weapons for a major organised crime gang.
“Menga used his profile to mask serious criminality. The evidence we recovered from Encrochat left no doubt about the scale of his involvement in drug trafficking and illegal firearms. His sentence sends a clear message: nobody is above the law, and those who engage in this kind of activity will be brought to justice.” — Detective Chief Inspector Claire McGuire, GMP
Operation Foam: Crushing Organised Crime
Menga’s arrest is a headline result from Operation Foam, GMP’s huge crackdown on gangsters exposed through Encrochat messages. This ongoing campaign has already led to over 300 arrests and handed down more than 1,000 years of jail time combined.
Sporting Fame, Criminal Infamy
Menga pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited weapons. His sentence: 15 years and three months behind bars — a sharp fall from grace for a man once admired in fighting circles.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) praised the Encrochat bust as a major win for UK law enforcement tackling serious organised crime.
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