ENCROCHAT HACK: Two more charged with cocaine smuggling as encrypted phone probe continues

TWO more men have been charged in the wake of the Encrochat law enforcement hack.

Jack Bertram Fallon, 31, of Bramley Close, Olveston, Bristol, has been charged with conspiracy to import class A drugs and failure to comply with an order to provide officers with access to his phone.

Arron James Collins, 34, of Newland Walk, Withywood, Bristol has been charged with conspiracy to import class A drugs and possessing an extreme pornographic image.

Both appeared at Worle Magistrates’ court this morning (October 24) and were further remanded to appear at Bristol Crown Court on 23 November. 

The National Crime Agency made the arrests on Friday (October 23) in connection with the seizure of five kilos of cocaine hidden inside boxes of whey protein powder, by Border Force officers at London Gateway Parcel Hub in January this year.

The arrests are linked to Operation Venetic – the UK investigation into the EncroChat encrypted messaging platform.

This spring Dutch and French investigators broke through the encryption of the supposedly secure Encrochat encrypted phone communication platform which was being used by around 60,000 criminals worldwide and about 10,000 in the UK.

They allowed police forces across Europe, including in the UK, access to real time messaging between organised crime groups.

It led to hundreds of raids, arrests and seizures of drugs, cash and firearms, with more than 1,000 people arrested.

A third man, aged 33, was arrested in September in connection with the seizure and was released under investigation.