take down Drug dealer jailed for more than 16 years after police hack into his EncroChat messages

A drug dealer has been jailed for more than 16 years after police hacked into his messages on the EncroChat platform. 

Erion Nakdi (38) from Surbiton, Surrey, was nabbed while travelling to Luton Airport with £5,000 in his suitcase.

Following a search of his home, officers recovered a further £5,000 as part of the investigation by the Organised Crime Partnership, which is a joint between the National Crime Agency and the Metropolitan Police Service, on November 12, 2020.

Nakdi, who had been using the messaging platform EncroChat to run an illegal drug supply network, boasted that he had contacts in South America, and claimed he was able to bring over 50 kilos of cocaine a week.

Using the handle ‘Taboocrow’, Nakdi exchanged over 4,000 messages detailing his plans to supply multiple areas across London, Kent, Norwich, Manchester and Liverpool.

On one occasion Nakdi said he managed to sell ‘4 pieces for £35,000’ – four pieces being equivalent to four kilos.

But police who managed to access his message as part of Operation Venetic – the UK law enforcement response to the takedown of EncroChat – revealed how Nakdi used the platform to facilitate the supply of Class A drugs.

The messages showed his leading role in the criminal network, with multiple runners and drivers who would collect and drop off drugs and cash. In other instances, he would arrange to buy drugs from one organised crime group and sell onto another for profit.

Nakdi was sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine), possessing criminal property and money laundering offences at Luton Crown Court on Friday.

OCP Operations Manager, Andrew Tickner said Nakdi played the role of a broker, acting as a middle man in various drug deals.

“He failed in his attempt to conceal his criminal activity by using an encrypted phone,” Mr Tickner said.

“He sought to make profit and supply multiple regions in the UK without considering the violence and exploitation Class A drugs cause.

“I hope his lengthy sentence will serve as a reminder to those involved in the drugs trade that we’re committed to disrupting the supply chain at all levels.”