George Powell, 40, from Southport, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court. He was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, specifically cocaine and heroin.
Powell was arrested on 21 July last year at Manchester Airport. Police identified him through the Encrochat handle ‘skint-harry’, which was traced using personal details he had carelessly shared in messages, including information about his family, addresses, and car details.
At an earlier hearing, Powell admitted to conspiring to supply a total of 9kg of cocaine and 5kg of heroin between March and June 2020. His messages revealed his role as a key player in drug networks that pose a threat to local communities.
Detective Inspector Peter McCullough said, “Powell’s Encrochat messages revealed his clear involvement as a leading figure in drug conspiracies that could have caused suffering to families and residents in our community.”
Merseyside Police have pledged to continue their efforts to tackle drug dealers. A spokesperson stated, “We know the destruction that drug supply causes, and Merseyside Police remains relentless in our pursuit of these criminals and to bring down serious and organised criminal groups.”
If you have information about drug dealing, contact @MerPolCC on social media or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Originally published by UKNIP.
