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Two major drug traffickers have been found guilty of conspiring to commit murder and smuggling over a tonne of cocaine into the UK, following one of the largest EncroChat investigations ever led by Metropolitan Police detectives.
James Harding, 34, of Alton, Hampshire, and Jayes Kharouti, 39, of Epsom, were convicted at The Old Bailey after detectives uncovered a detailed plot to assassinate a suspected rival drug courier, as well as their role in trafficking millions of pounds worth of Class A drugs.
The convictions stem from a multi-year investigation into encrypted conversations on EncroChat, a communication platform once believed to be impenetrable to law enforcement. Harding operated under the alias “thetopsking”, while Kharouti used the handle “besttops”, discussing both drug shipments and a planned contract killing in their encrypted chats.
Detective Chief Inspector Jim Casey, who led the investigation, said:
“This conviction sends a clear message: no matter how sophisticated the methods, criminals cannot hide behind encrypted software… We monitored their drug-dealing activity but then saw the group discussing the contract killing of a rival. We moved fast to protect those in danger.”
Drug Empire and Assassination Plot
Harding, who ran his £5 million enterprise from Dubai, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to commit murder following a seven-week trial. Kharouti had already admitted drug charges in November 2024 and was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder.
The Met revealed the pair were involved in at least 50 importations of cocaine, amounting to around one tonne, between April and June 2020. Investigators also uncovered explicit details of a plan to hire hitmen, secure firearms, and arrange getaway vehicles for a targeted killing.
The encrypted communications were cracked as part of a wider European investigation into EncroChat, with data passed to UK authorities by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
High-Profile Arrests and Sentencing
Harding was arrested at Geneva Airport in December 2021 and later extradited from Switzerland to the UK. Kharouti fled the UK in 2020 after his address was searched by officers. He was eventually located in Turkey and brought back to the UK to face justice.
Both men are due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 26 June.
EncroChat Crackdown Continues
Since the encrypted platform was breached in 2020, the Met has now secured convictions for over 500 criminals, amounting to more than 5,000 years of imprisonment.
Detective Inspector Driss Hayoukane QPM, who oversees the operation, said:
“Thanks to the tenacity and commitment from Met officers… we will continue to pursue those who profit from bringing harm to our communities.”
