Jailed: 'Wholesale' pair supplied up to £700,000 of cocaine

Kieran Melody and Josh Boore, from Solihull and Acocks Green, were busted after their encrypted drug deal chats were cracked by police chiefs.

Melody and Boore had their conversation on EncroChat – a phone messaging service used by criminals that promised them private app chats.

They discussed receiving large shipments of drugs, supplying across the West Midlands and beyond, and even how they planned to launder their ill-gotten gains through businesses and property.

But unbeknownst to them, and thousands of other criminals using the service, law enforcement agencies in Europe had developed a technique to collect data from EncroChat.

The data was processed by the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) and evidential packs sent to investigation units across the country – where EncroChat handles "vanillapark” and “juiceagent” were attributed to Melody and Boore, aged 29 and 24.

The investigation progressed to the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU). Detective Constable Alex Gascoyne, from the unit, said: "It meant we were able to access all their messages about drug dealing, between each other and fellow EncroChat users, from the end of March last year.

"In one chat on March 27 they discussed the possibility of accessing 60kg of cocaine from a contact at a cost of £38,000 per kilo and how they would make a profit of £1,000 per kilo.

"The following day the pair spoke of how busy they were with two new customers purchasing at least two kilograms of cocaine from him per week.

"And on March 31 we found chats about a drug deal in Cardiff and how Melody reminded Boore to wear gloves and use a hidden compartment in the vehicle to conceal the cocaine consignment.

"There was a wealth of detailed evidence about their criminal activity, including pictures of the drugs, and both had little option but to admit their guilt in court."

Melody and Boore were initially arrested from a van in School Lane, Solihull, on October 28 last year after Boore had driven to London to collect 4kg of cocaine.

West Midlands Police charged them with drugs supply and, while on court bail, ROCU received the EncroChat package – so they were arrested again on February 3 this year.

Officers found a Rolex watch under Melody's pillow and a search of his home in Murdoch Drive, Solihull, uncovered £6,515 in cash. In an interview he admitted being "vanillapark" and drugs supply, but denied money laundering – claiming money he'd use to buy properties was accrued as a self-employed landscaper and inheritance.

Boore, from Ninfield Road in Acocks Green, refused to answer questions about EncroChat but later also admitted his role in the cocaine supply chain.

Both Melody and Boore appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesdaywhere they were jailed for 10 years and eight months, and six years and eight months respectively, after after admitting drugs supply between March 26 and May 4 last year.

Head of West Midlands ROCU, Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Baker, said intelligence received from Operation Venetic – the operation to crack EncroChat – has taken drugs and guns off the streets and potentially saved lives.

He added: "We’ve focussed on those thought to be involved in the highest levels of organised crime across our region.

"The wealth of intelligence we have received means investigations will be continuing into organised crime groups and there will be many more warrants, arrests and prosecutions as a result of this.

"Op Venetic began at the end of March just as the Covid-19 pandemic struck, and despite the virus, officers and staff in our ROCU worked relentlessly throughout − working on their days off, working very long days all at a time when most people stayed at home.

"The dedication by the teams has resulted in us being able to identify key people involved in serious organised crime across the whole West Midlands region."