Huyton man latest to be jailed in connection with Operation Venetic

A Huyton man has today been jailed in connection with an international operation targeting criminals who used a mobile encryption device to try and evade detection. 

39-year-old Christopher Perryman of Gloucester Road was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court today, Thursday, 22 April, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine.

Perryman was arrested on Wednesday, 24 March as part of Operation Venetic, the national investigation into the use of encrypted mobile devices, for his involvement in the supply of over 120 kilograms of cocaine and 5 kilograms of heroin. He was found to be using the handle ‘Nuttydingo’.

The police operation came about after law enforcement officials in Europe managed to crack the ‘encrochat’ service being used by criminals involved in serious and organised crime to carry out their business.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Graeme Kehoe said: “Perryman is the 13th man in Merseyside to be jailed in connection with Operation Venetic, and arrests are continuing across the region as part of the large scale investigation into the use of encrochat.

“As part of the international operation, around 60,000 users of encrochat have been identified worldwide, with about 10,000 of them in the UK – all involved in coordinating and planning the supply and distribution of drugs and weapons, money laundering and other criminal activity. A total of  104 arrests and 73 charges have been brought so far in Merseyside, and working with law enforcement agencies across the world, we will continue to disrupt the criminal activity of those involved.

“Perryman’s involvement in the supply of cocaine and heroin was uncovered during Op Venetic, and his sentencing today should serve as a stark warning to others involved in this criminality that we are pursuing you, and we will bring you to justice.

“Merseyside and many areas of the UK are safer thanks to this operation, and we will continue to target anyone involved in serious organised crime to keep this positive momentum going.”