Trial Reveals EncroChat Gang’s Hiring of Hitman Jailed at 14 for Killing
A London drugs gang that operated through the EncroChat encrypted phone network reportedly employed a hitman who had previously been convicted of manslaughter at the age of 14, according to testimony presented in court.
The gang allegedly agreed to pay the hitman £50,000 to carry out a murder, as revealed during a trial at the Old Bailey. Among the accused individuals are Michael Ematuwo, who denies involvement in a conspiracy to murder, along with Jimmy Gottshalk, Calvin Crump, and Peter Thompson.
The prosecution outlined how the gang used EncroChat devices for communication, believing the platform’s encryption to be impenetrable by law enforcement. Messages discussed in the trial revealed detailed drug deals and large-scale cocaine importation operations.
The hitman hired by the gang was identified as having the handle “Randommist” on EncroChat, while other defendants used aliases such as “Blockmover” and “Logicaldemon.” The court heard that the gang was following orders from unidentified individuals known as QQ and ZZ on the messaging platform.
According to the prosecutor, the gang’s criminal activities involved significant quantities of cocaine imported into the UK, distributed, and sold at substantial profit margins. EncroChat messages suggested up to 50 importations of cocaine weighing approximately 1,000 kilograms occurred during the conspiracy period.
The gang’s use of EncroChat was intended to shield their conversations from law enforcement scrutiny, allowing for frank discussions about illegal activities. The prosecution described the operation as a “large-scale criminal enterprise” orchestrated by QQ and ZZ, culminating in a plot to murder an unnamed individual.
The trial also revealed the involvement of a fifth man, Khuram Ahmed, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine. The prosecution highlighted references to Ahmed’s children in EncroChat conversations as evidence of his participation in the criminal activities.
The trial is expected to last several weeks as more details about the gang’s operations and connections unfold.
