Haulage company owner Guy Mitchell jailed May 2026 over cocaine trafficking conspiracy exposed through EncroChat messages.
A haulage company owner who used his transport business as cover for large-scale cocaine trafficking has been jailed following a long-running Operation Venetic investigation into organised crime networks operating across the UK and Europe.
Guy Mitchell, 56, from Blaydon-on-Tyne, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on May 7, 2026, after being convicted of conspiracy offences linked to cocaine supply. Prosecutors said Mitchell exploited his industry knowledge and logistics contacts to move drugs and criminal cash while attempting to shield operations behind legitimate haulage activity.
Investigators from the National Crime Agency uncovered encrypted EncroChat communications showing Mitchell operating under the handle “nova-train” coordinating cocaine shipments, transport routes, and cash movements during the COVID-19 lockdown period.
The investigation revealed Mitchell paid one of his HGV drivers to collect 15 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated £615,000 from Warrington in April 2020. Authorities also intercepted criminal cash linked to the network after stopping one of his employees during the same month.
Mitchell was further linked to a wider conspiracy involving the attempted importation of 42 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of £3.36 million from the Netherlands into the UK. Prosecutors alleged the network relied on haulage routes and transport infrastructure to move Class A drugs across borders while maintaining the appearance of ordinary freight operations.
Among Mitchell’s associates were David Jeavons, William McChesney, and David Bowen, all of whom played roles in arranging imports, sourcing buyers, or transporting narcotics. Several members of the group have already received prison sentences.
Messages recovered from EncroChat devices also exposed internal tensions within the group after 10 kilograms of cocaine reportedly went missing. Investigators said gang members discussed retaliatory action against a suspected thief in Newcastle, prompting authorities to issue an Osman warning over fears of violence.
The case forms part of the wider fallout from Operation Venetic, the UK response to the international takedown of the EncroChat encrypted communications network used extensively by organised crime groups. The operation has resulted in thousands of arrests, major drug seizures, and lengthy prison sentences across Europe.
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Reports are sourced from official documents, law-enforcement updates, and credible investigations.
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