Top Encrochat dealer 'Old Belly' caught after sharing photo of own front garden

12 March 2024 , 06:34

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Philip Glennon, 40, used EncroChat to supply cocaine and heroin (Image: No credit)

A drug dealer who used the secret chat service EncroChat to sell huge quantities of heroin and cocaine was caught by police after he shared photos of his garden.

Philip Glennon used the usernames 'Royalcleaner' and 'Oldbelly' on the EncroChat network. The 40-year-old was linked to the supply of 14kg of cocaine, 65kg of heroin and 5kg of cannabis between March and June 2020.

He was jailed for 15 years on Monday for conspiring to supply Class A drugs cocaine and heroin, and cannabis, which is a class B drug.

Other Encrochat handles were found to contain his contact details. He had been saved as Phil Glennon, Phil Glen, and Philly G.

Detectives were also able to identify Glennon, from West Derby, Liverpool after images were shared on his device showing his front garden and details were shared about his vehicle and children, reports the Echo. His messages also led police to his cousin, James Wilson, 37, of Bowring Park Road, in Childwall.

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Wilson was sentenced to 14 years and eight months in prison on Friday 26 January for drugs supply offences after being identified as the user of the handle 'Direfortress'. Before it was shut down by police, criminals used EncroChat-encrypted phones to hide behind code names and coordinate drug dealing, money laundering and other criminal activities. Glennon's arrest was part of Merseyside Police's response to Operation Venetic, an international operation targeting criminals who used the mobile encryption service in an attempt to evade detection.

Detective Sergeant James Boardman, from Merseyside Police, said: "Glennon thought he could hide behind an encrypted device, but sadly for him this wasn't the case and he becomes the latest person in Merseyside to be jailed for using Encrochat for selling large quantities of drugs. We know the devastation that drugs cause and Merseyside Police remains relentless in our pursuit of these criminals and ending their drugs trade. I hope this result shows that our officers will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of these people who think they are above the law, and believe they can evade justice."

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas