THREE men, including a father and son, have been jailed over a plot to supply cocaine and cannabis worth £4m.
Ricky Lee, 31, Christopher Gresty, 56, and his son Louis Gresty, 25, from Salford, even continued dealing drugs in Manchester, Liverpool, and Coventry during the first coronavirus lockdown. Now they have been jailed thanks to evidence obtained from their EncroChat phones.
Lee used his ill-gotten gains to pay for IVF treatment, holding a 'gender reveal' party during lockdown. In video seized by police, Lee is even captured counting a pile of cash and saying: "What d'you reckon that is? Half a day's work!?"
Their operation was smashed by Greater Manchester Police as part of Operation Venetic, the force's initiative to mine incriminating data hacked by law enforcement from EncroChat's servers in northern France in April 2020. The encrypted devices were exclusively used by criminals, according to police.
Ricky Lee used EncroChat handles 'scarygate' and 'shockingstar' to communicate with others and organise the wholesale acquisition and supply of cocaine and cannabis across Manchester, Liverpool and even Coventry, a court heard.
Denne historien er fra December 02, 2023-utgaven av Manchester Evening News.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 02, 2023-utgaven av Manchester Evening News.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Suspect 'known to victim' as two dead in stabbing
POLICE DESCRIBE DOUBLE KILLING AS 'ISOLATED' AS THEY REASSURE SHOCKED COMMUNITY
Red dawn as boss Amorim takes training
RUBEN Amorim will take training as United head coach for the first time today after his visa to officially start work in the role was approved.
Lollipop man Barry has job he'll stick at
A LOLLIPOP man has become the fifth member of his family to take on the job.
STAR-STUDDED GALA RAISES RECORD SUM TO AID CHILDREN
MOVIE stars joined TV favourites and football legends in Manchester at the city's biggest fundraising ball for another record-breaking night.
Why Reds should Let Leny sink or swim at Ipswich
'THERE IS NO REASON TO EASE YORO INTO ACTION'
Player audit shows need for squad 'surgery' in January
CITY LOOK A PLAYER SHORT IN DEFENCE, MIDFIELD AND ATTACK
I didn't make it at City but now I'm worth £83m
FORMER RIGHT-BACK REECE WABARA SHOWED FLAIR AT ETIHAD ACADEMY BUT EVEN MORE AS A BUSINESSMAN IN FASHION
Rory's World best wins the race again
RORY McIlroy finished the 2024 season in style by adding his third DP World Tour Championship win after winning the sixth Race to Dubai title of his career.
Carsley signs off in style with rout against Ireland
INTERIM boss Lee Carsley signed off in style as England capitalised on Liam Scales' sending off in a 5-0 thrashing of the Republic of Ireland that sealed promotion back to the Nations League top tier.
Bizet's maiden goal helps Reds end run
CELIN Bizet scored her maiden United goal to help them break their three-match winless run with a 2-0 victory over Leicester in the Women's Super League.
