Three men jailed for a total of 75 years for drugs and firearms offences after National Crime Agency’s Operation Venetic crackdown.
Three men who plotted the trade of military-grade weapons and drugs have been sentenced to a total of 75 years in prison.
Carl Ian Jones, 59, Harly Wise, 29, and Naginder Gill, 47, used the encrypted messaging platform EncroChat to plan a range of serious offences. At Bolton Crown Court on Thursday, Jones was jailed for 30 years, Wise for 25 years, and Gill for 20 years.
EncroChat was taken offline in 2020, and the National Crime Agency (NCA) led Operation Venetic, the UK’s law enforcement response to the criminal activity facilitated through the platform.
Evidence from EncroChat revealed the offenders’ dangerous activities. Jones tried to broker a deal for an AR-15 assault rifle with 50 rounds of ammunition and asked a contact to store firearms hidden at his Mallorca property. He and Wise also discussed trading AK-47s and an Uzi submachine gun.
In May 2020, Wise arranged the sale of two 9mm handguns and 50 bullets in south London. Two people involved in that deal were later sentenced to 12 and six years.
NCA investigators uncovered thousands of messages detailing the movement of Class A and B drugs. Jones and Wise acted as facilitators, moving drugs to buyers for profit. Jones, from Hale, Greater Manchester, used the EncroChat handle “stalehead” and was convicted of multiple drug and firearms offences. Wise, from Ealing, London, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, cannabis, and methamphetamine, along with conspiracy to transfer prohibited weapons. Gill, of Oldbury, West Midlands, used the handle “indianocean” and admitted conspiracy to supply drugs.
Wise also admitted planning a kidnap of a rival drug dealer in Birmingham over a £350,000 debt, including attending meetings in Greenwich Park and coordinating with associates.
NCA Branch Commander Jon Hughes said: “These men are extremely dangerous, and the streets are safer with them in prison. Drugs and firearms crimes are often linked, and the NCA will continue to work with partners to protect the public from these threats.”
Reports are sourced from official documents, law-enforcement updates, and credible investigations.
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