Drug trade ‘middle man’ locked up

A DAD-OF-TWO worked as a “middle man” in an organised crime chain, preparing large quantities of class A drugs to be supplied across Merseyside.

- BY WESLEY HOLMES

Robert McQuade, 43, used the Encrochat handle VioletClaw to act as a “broker” arranging for supplies of cocaine to be adulterated with other substances to bulk out their weight before being sold on.

Evidence of his crimes was discovered after the encrypted communications platform was taken down by international law enforcement in 2020.

He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce a Controlled class A drug and conspiracy to supply a controlled class A drug (cocaine).

The court heard how, between March and June 2020, McQuade was involved in the production of 19kg of cocaine worth between £684,000 and £874,000, and the supply of 2kg of cocaine worth between £72,000 and £92,000.

He was arrested at an address on St Helens Road in Ormskirk on August 19 this year as part of the Merseyside Police response to Operation Venetic: a national investigation into the use of encrypted mobile devices.