Millions of pounds worth of amphetamine were produced at a remote rural cottage
A sophisticated EncroChat operation which produced millions of pounds worth of amphetamine at a remote cottage was led by a drug dealer who used a Breaking Bad themed handle.
A series of messages alluded to a laboratory on the outskirts of Chester being used to produce amphetamine. Officers from Merseyside Police and North Wales Police later discovered this factory on Deeside Lane in the Sealand area of the city. A court previously heard the North Wales probe was codenamed Operation Bluesword and work began to carry out surveillance on the cottage.
A North Wales Police officer estimated the lab converted 2.6 tonnes of raw chemicals into controlled drugs over a three month period, which was estimated to be worth over £1m. He said: "Such was the scale of the production enterprise; the raw materials were moved onsite with plant machinery and HGVs involved in the logistics."
The work was time consuming and complicated. EncroChat messages described the harshness of the effects of the chemicals and the intensity of the labour. However, they appeared to be committed to not cutting corners.
But they also relied on an elaborate network of co-conspirators. Kieron Harley and Lee Eccles worked for 10 hours a day producing the dangerous chemicals in the lab. Stephen Shearwood, who used the handle "Octo-ice", Michael Pope and David Kelly took on various roles in the operation including transporting drugs and cash around the country and storing chemicals.
Saunderson and Mount attempted to arm themselves with weapons, while Adam Ashton seemed to become aware that EncroChat was hacked before it became public knowledge in June. Ashton, who was originally from Yorkshire and acted as a go-between before the Merseyside-based members of the OCG and the Beeby brothers, sent another user a message the previous month which said: "These phones aren't safe anyone. Fact. I'll show you what I've just seen and heard.
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