Crime gang boss snared by drugs find in Kinder egg

The organised crime gang, who were based in Cheetham Hill, trafficked firearms and ‘wholesale amounts’ of heroin and cocaine throughout the UK.

- AMY WALKER AND ADAM MAIDMENT

A MAJOR player in a notorious criminal gang supplying heroin, cocaine and guns across Greater Manchester and the North West has been jailed after he was found with a Kinder egg stashed with drugs inside.

Their complex operation was only unearthed when EncroChat, a popular encrypted communication and service provider used by high-profile criminals, was infiltrated by police in 2020, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Tareanio Blake used the EncroChat handle ‘Lemursea’, prosecutor Jamie Baxter said, and over an eight-month period from March to December 2020 sent dozens of messages discussing the trafficking of heroin, cocaine and guns.

Several EncroChat conversations between Blake, fellow gang member Mohammed Shahid, who went by ‘Driphard’, and an unidentified figure known only by the handle ‘Mocky’ indicated the various drops and collections of cash and drugs.