A drug dealer imported cocaine, ecstasy and crystal meth into the UK with an encrypted communications network used by criminals.
Chris Noakes of Rainham was jailed for 13 years when he appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 8.
He had been found to be involved in the import and export of drugs like ecstasy, cocaine and crystal meth from countries such as Pakistan and Australia, and also supplying them within the UK.
He was said to be using an encrypted communications network called Encrochat for this that was uncovered during Met’s Specialist team’s Operation Eternal.
Noakes was arrested on October 14, 2022, at Gatwick Airport.
Police say he had conspired to supply over 50kg of Class A drugs and that this was not disputed by the defence.
A spokesperson for the Met’s East Area Basic Command Unit said that frontline colleagues from local team worked closely with specialist teams to deal with criminals behind drug supply.
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