ENCROCHAT: Alleged plot to reveal guns location to 'get Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh lower jail term'

THOMAS "Bomber" Kavanagh has appeared in court to face charges in connection with the acquisition of firearms and ammunition and a plot to pervert the course of justice.

The 55-yar-old Irish national from Tamworth, Staffordshire, appeared alongside two other men at Westminster Magistrates' Court today (Tuesday, August 8 2023).

They were Shaun Alexander Kent, 37, and Daniel John McLoughlin, 36, both from Liverpool.

The three people have been charged following a major National Crime Agency investigation into a plot to acquire firearms and ammunition that was uncovered following the takedown of the EncroChat encrypted messaging platform. All three were charged with:

*Conspiring to possess a firearm without a certificate *Conspiring to possess ammunition for a firearm without a certificate *Conspiring to possess a prohibited weapon *Conspiring to possess prohibited ammunition

The investigation under Operation Venetic into the EncroChat phones led to the arrests in Spain of Bomber's son Jack Kavanagh, 23, from Tamworth, and Liam Byrne, 42, from Dublin, and extradition proceedings are underway so they can face the same charges.

They will also be charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice alongside Kavanagh senior and Kent.

The conspiracy to pervert the course of justice allegation is an alleged plot by the four to reveal the location of weapons to police in an attempt to get Thomas Kavanagh a reduced prison sentence.

He is currently serving 21 years in jail for drug trafficking. The three who appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court were formally charged and they will next appear at the Old Bailey in September. NCA Regional Head of Investigations Craig Turner said: “These charges are a major milestone in what has been a long and complex international investigation. “We will continue to work with our partners to target criminals who we suspect are operating at the highest levels of organised crime impacting on the UK.”