Joiner guilty of cocaine dealing

A JURY has convicted a joiner of running a major drugs operation from his home in Dundee after he was caught in an encrypted criminal network crackdown.

Aaron Bradford could face a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of being involved in serious organised crime.

The 35-year-old, who has previous convictions for drugs offences, was snared as part of a Europewide crackdown on EncroChat – a secretive network used by criminals to trade drugs and weapons across the continent.

Police did not find drugs or cash when they raided Bradford’s home on Strachan Avenue but found suspicious items including a hydraulic press and blenders which contained traces of cocaine.

Bradford tried to incriminate another man during his trial at the High Court in Dundee but jurors found Bradford guilty by a majority verdict.

Judge Andrew Miller said: “You have been convicted of the very serious offences of involvement in serious organised crime relating to the supply of controlled drugs and secondly, being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug cocaine.

“From the evidence before the court, you were involved in the supply, particularly of cocaine, at a significant level.

“These are both very serious

offences.”

Bradford’s home was targeted in June 2020 as part of Operation Venetic, which was launched after EncroChat had been penetrated by the police.

The court heard police believe a user dubbed “El Pazo” was linked to a phone used by Bradford.

The same phone had been used by Bradford to call for taxis and was registered with a vet practice in Dundee. A samurai sword and notebooks featuring writing consistent with “tick lists” were also discovered at his property.

Also found was packaging and the appearance of red gel used to line cocaine in a bin in the garage.

The same red gel had been referenced in previous EncroChat communications.

Bradford was found guilty of being involved in serious organised crime at his home address between March 31 and June 15 2020 by agreeing with unknown people to use encrypted devices to communicate about obtaining and supplying drugs.

Bradford was also convicted of a second charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine during the same period, but the Crown dropped an allegation as part of the serious organised crime charge that Bradford instructed a person to carry out surveillance services on his home.

He was also acquitted of possessing cannabis. Judge Miller revoked Bradford’s bail order and remanded him in custody until next month. Bradford will be sentenced at the High Court in Aberdeen.

Aaron Bradford.