Three jailed for drug offences
A FINCHAMPSTEAD man has been sentenced to 18 years and six months in prison for his role in the supply of class A, B and C drugs.
Following an investigation by officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU), three men were sentenced for drug offences.
At Reading Crown Court on Monday, Joe McNally, aged 33, of Park Lane, Finchampstead (pictured inset) was sentenced to 18 years and six months’ imprisonment.
Robert Brewster, aged 55, of High Road, Brent, London was sentenced to six years and two months’ imprisonment.
Benjamin Martin-Bynoe, aged 35, of Castlehaven Road, Camden was sentenced to five years six months’ imprisonment.
All three pleaded guilty to:
■ Being concerned in the supply of class A – Cocaine.
■ Being concerned in the supply of class B – Ketamine.
Being concerned in the supply of class B – Cannabis.
■ Being concerned in the supply of class C - Zopiclone.
■ Being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of prohibition on importation of class A – Cocaine.
■ Being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of prohibition on importation of class B – Ketamine.
■ Being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of prohibition on importation of class B – Cannabis.
■ Being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a class C drug - Zopiclone.
Following the takedown of Enchrochat, an encrypted system, as a result of Operation Venetic, messages came to light that related to the large scale supply of drugs on the dark web.
An investigation by officers from the Dark Web team found that these devices could be linked to McNally, Brewster and Martin-Bynoe.
They discovered McNally, the leader of the group, was running dark web accounts to sell large quantities of drugs.
These would be purchased using cryptocurrency and, following which, Brewster and Martin-Bynoe would organise packaging the orders and then sending them via Royal Mail in disguised packaging.
When McNally was arrested, it was discovered that he was using a laptop with a USB that held software to prevent it from storing data. On examination, it was found that it contained information of customers.
Detective inspector Rob Bryant, of SEROCU, said: “McNally, Brewster and Martin-Bynoe have all admitted their involvement in this sophisticated supply of drugs.
“By using Enchrochat devices they attempted to evade law enforcement and hide their activity.
“Due to the hard work of SEROCU, especially Detective Constables’ Tracy Jones and Jo Waites, we were able to prove these three men were linked to those devices.
“The supply of drugs can cause untold damage to those in our communities and we will work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice.
“Dedicated officers working in Regional Cybercrime and Dark Web teams will robustly seek to identify and prosecute those using the dark web to commit crime whilst also working collaboratively at national, regional and force level with the support from the CPS.”
Rebecca Sharp, specialist prosecutor for the CPS, said: “Despite their considerable efforts to evade detection - using the dark web, cryptocurrency and encryption software to disguise their criminal business – the overwhelming amount of evidence against each defendant meant that they had little choice but to admit their involvement.
“The CPS worked closely with the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit to prosecute this group, building a strong case and bringing them to justice.”