Rochdale Man Jailed for Over Five Years in Class A and B Drug Conspiracy Following EncroChat Hack
Rochdale, Greater Manchester - A Rochdale man has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison for his involvement in a large-scale drug supply operation that spanned across Greater Manchester. Kane Worthington, 34, of Boarshaw Road, Rochdale, was convicted for conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs, following an investigation that utilised data recovered from encrypted mobile phones.
Worthington, born on June 20, 1990, was a key player in an organised crime group (OCG), acting as the middleman between suppliers and customers over a considerable period of time. He will serve 63 months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and 36 months concurrently for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
The conviction is a direct result of Operation Venetic, the UK’s national response to disrupt encrypted communication systems used by organised criminal networks. Led by the National Crime Agency (NCA), Operation Venetic represents the UK’s largest ever operation against organised crime.
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For years, the encrypted technology used in these devices made it virtually impossible for law enforcement to access data and evidence. However, the disruption of the EncroChat network allowed officers to access encrypted data, ultimately leading to Worthington’s downfall and conviction.
Evidence recovered from Worthington’s encrypted phone, where he operated under the alias ‘loftyrocket,’ revealed a network of communications with suppliers and customers across Manchester. These messages detailed the arrangement of drop-offs and pickups of cocaine and cannabis, as well as discussions regarding prices and outstanding debts to a primary supplier.
The court heard that between March 26, 2020, and May 23, 2020, Worthington was in contact with 25 different chat handles, indicating communications facilitating the distribution of illicit substances.
Authorities estimate that the 4kg of cocaine and 16lbs of cannabis distributed through Worthington's network would have yielded a street value of approximately £500,000.
This case serves as a stark warning to criminals utilising encrypted communication platforms. The successful disruption of EncroChat and the subsequent access to encrypted data highlights the determination of law enforcement to dismantle organised crime networks and bring offenders to justice.
Worthington, born on June 20, 1990, was a key player in an organised crime group (OCG), acting as the middleman between suppliers and customers over a considerable period of time. He will serve 63 months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and 36 months concurrently for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
The conviction is a direct result of Operation Venetic, the UK’s national response to disrupt encrypted communication systems used by organised criminal networks. Led by the National Crime Agency (NCA), Operation Venetic represents the UK’s largest ever operation against organised crime.
%20(1).jpg)
For years, the encrypted technology used in these devices made it virtually impossible for law enforcement to access data and evidence. However, the disruption of the EncroChat network allowed officers to access encrypted data, ultimately leading to Worthington’s downfall and conviction.
Evidence recovered from Worthington’s encrypted phone, where he operated under the alias ‘loftyrocket,’ revealed a network of communications with suppliers and customers across Manchester. These messages detailed the arrangement of drop-offs and pickups of cocaine and cannabis, as well as discussions regarding prices and outstanding debts to a primary supplier.
The court heard that between March 26, 2020, and May 23, 2020, Worthington was in contact with 25 different chat handles, indicating communications facilitating the distribution of illicit substances.
Authorities estimate that the 4kg of cocaine and 16lbs of cannabis distributed through Worthington's network would have yielded a street value of approximately £500,000.
This case serves as a stark warning to criminals utilising encrypted communication platforms. The successful disruption of EncroChat and the subsequent access to encrypted data highlights the determination of law enforcement to dismantle organised crime networks and bring offenders to justice.
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