Folkestone Drug Dealers Caught via Encrypted Chat Sting
Jack Daniels and Andrew Talbot, two drug dealers from the Folkestone area, thought they were untouchable. Using the encrypted messaging app Encrochat to organise the supply of cocaine and ketamine, they operated in the shadows—until police cracked the code.
Police Infiltrate Encrypted Network
Unknown to Daniels and Talbot, French and Dutch authorities had infiltrated Encrochat and handed over vital information to the UK’s National Crime Agency. The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate pounced, digging through reams of intercepted messages, phone mast data, and intelligence.
Between March and June 2020, a user called ‘simplyned’ coordinated massive drug deals. Detectives matched the account to Daniels by tracing signal activity near his home. The trusted courier ‘Andy’ was identified as Talbot, who frequently handled collections.
Arrest and Sentencing at Canterbury Crown Court
In November 2020, simultaneous warrants at their homes led to dramatic arrests. Police discovered £4,500 in cash hidden inside a shoe at Daniels’ house, alongside notes matching Encrochat messages. Talbot’s home yielded small amounts of cocaine.
- Daniels, 32, of Sandgate, pled guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine and ketamine. He was sentenced to 7 years and 8 months behind bars.
- Talbot, 32, of Folkestone, admitted the same charges and received a 5-year sentence.
Detective Inspector Praises Team’s Work
“Daniels and Talbot thought their sophisticated encrypted chats would keep them safe, but we brought them down,” said Detective Inspector Kris Eberlein from the Serious Organised Crime Unit.
“The intercepted messages gave us a foot in the door, but our officers painstakingly gathered solid evidence to nail these criminals. This conviction sends a strong message to large-scale drug suppliers: we have the resources and the grit to catch you.”
The crackdown shows law enforcement’s commitment to busting organised drug networks in Kent and Essex. Fingers crossed this is just the start of a major clean-up.
