Drug deal brothers lived life of luxury
APAIR of drug-dealing brothers who enjoyed a life of luxury while making a fortune flogging heroin, cocaine, ketamine and cannabis are settling into life behind bars.
The Rains siblings were caught with debtors lists, designer clothes and expensive Cartier jewellery.
John Paul Rains, 37 and Daniel Rains, 39, used the encrypted Encrochat system to buy huge amounts of Class A and B substances. Following the European-wide hack into the system by law enforcement, the brothers were busted.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard that when
John was detained, police found drugs, scales, drugs phones, debtors lists, cash, a cash counter, designer gear and expensive jewellery.
The brothers have since admitted drug offences. They’ve been jailed for a combined total of 20 years.
Prosecuting, Neil Fryman said that the brothers used the Encrochat handles ‘Sp**ticbus’ and ‘Navalspider.’
Daniel was referred to as ‘R kid’ and ‘the brother.’
The pair conspired to produce ketamine and John was involved in supplying wholesale amounts of heroin, cocaine, ketamine and cannabis.
“John Rains had a group of trusted customers to whom he supplied drugs to in multiple kilo amounts, some of these appear to be operating on the same level as him as he also enquires about purchasing drugs from them,” Mr Fryman said.
“Once these kilogram amounts are moved down the supply chain, the cash proceeds are collected/ dropped off for John Rains to pay his suppliers and also to make substantial profit for himself.
“By communicating with his suppliers and customers within a closed group on an encrypted device, John Rains was able to manage his enterprise at a distance, profiting as a conduit for vast amounts of drugs being supplied to those lower down the supply chain.”
Daniel was said to have been involved in the manufacture of ketamine and amphetamine.
The operation ran between February and June 2020, during which time John was involved in conspiracies to supply eight kilos of heroin worth £112,000 and 6.5kg of cocaine estimated to be worth £273,000.
There were discussions for him to supply a further 25kg of cocaine weekly, estimated at more than £1m wholesale per week, the court heard.
In total, the brothers conspired to produce over 100 kilos of ketamine in a week, valued at £750,000, with the value of intended ketamine production worth nearly £3m. John Rains was arrested in March last year.
His lavish lifestyle included buying designer items and expensive watches totalling £57,000.
The watches included two Rolexes, an Omega, a Cartier and a Tag Heuer together worth around £33,500.
Barry Grennan, mitigating for John, who has no previous convictions, said: “He doesn’t blame anybody else but number one. He was clearly under the orders of others, he had no experience whatsoever of the drugs business.
“He was somebody who was not happy or comfortable with what had been going on and so stopped it. This was a very serious mistake.”
For Daniel, who has dissimilar matters on his record, Howard Bernstein said his client was using his brother’s Encro device and there was no suggestion he was involved in handing over cash.
“On the evidence, he was in debt and his brother had attempted to pay off that debt,” he added. “The Rolex was a gift and the expensive shoes and vehicle were bought on finance.”
Sentencing the pair, Judge Jason Macadam said: “I am quite satisfied you both enjoyed a lifestyle of modest sums. The drugs trade is an evil trade and brings despair and despondency for all sorts of people and perpetuates crime.”
Daniel Rains, of Manesty Close, Middleton, was jailed for six years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (heroin); and two counts of conspiracy to produce class B drugs (ketamine and amphetamine).
John Rains, of Huddersfield Road, Oldham, was jailed for 14 years for two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs (heroin and cocaine); two counts of conspiracy to produce class B drugs (ketamine and amphetamine); and two counts of conspiracy to supply class B drugs (ketamine and cannabis).
A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing was set for March next year. Prosecutors will attempt to claim back some of their criminal cash.
Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Brown, of GMP’S Operation Challenger Organised Crime Team, said: “Criminals have been operating using Encrochat, thinking their communications have been safe and secure from the authorities.
“The brothers made
plans to supply more than £3m more in cocaine and ketamine, however our officers managed to infiltrate their communications and used their words against them.
“John Rains had trusted drivers which he used to facilitate this supply and movement of drugs and cash. He was also involved in controlling the importation of heroin with his brother that they were involved with for 8 years, with the drugs hidden in meat, using a route through Germany, Netherlands, England then onto Ireland.
“John Rains had a group of trusted customers to whom he supplied drugs to in multiple kilo amounts.
“Once these kilogram amounts were moved on down the supply chain, the cash proceeds were collected and dropped off for Rains to pay his suppliers and also to make substantial profit for himself.
“By communicating with his suppliers and customers within a closed group on an encrypted device, John Rains was able to manage his enterprise at a distance, profiting as a conduit for vast amounts of drugs being supplied to those lower down the supply chain.
“Daniel also used his brother’s encrophone. He had a significant role within the OCG and was involved in the manufacture of both ketamine and amphetamines.”