Encrochat drug dealers 'FlyingHorse' and 'Dave' sent down
07.11.2023 - 07:55
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Two men who sold kilos of cocaine at a ‘wholesale’ level have been locked up. Atiq Arif, 49, and Mohammed Sharif, 43, both used the Encrochat handle ‘FlyingHorse’ to flog cocaine, amphetamine, ketamine and cannabis at ‘wholesale’ levels.
They were caught after the Europe-wide hack into the encrypted messaging system used exclusively by organised criminal groups. In total, 1.25 kilos of cocaine, two kilos of heroin, six kilos of amphetamine, four kilos of ketamine and 20 kilos of cannabis was supplied, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Messages sent from the handle showed multiple arrangements for the collection and delivery of drugs and cash. After pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply both class A and class B drugs, Arif and Sharif were handed hefty jail terms.
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Prosecuting, Julian Goode said both men operated the handle ‘FlyingHorse’ to sell wholesale quantities of drugs. “There was regular contact by the same handle and on occasion, the handle referred to himself as ‘Dave’.
The defendant Mr Sharif also went by ‘Dave’,” he said. He added that both were involved as an ‘organised managerial role’. For Arif, Paul Crampin said his client had suffered with anxiety and depression.
“The ability for people with mental illnesses to facilitate crime is quite remarkable,” the judge said. “This case appears as simply a business being controlled by them, not as a desperate search for cash to pay off gambling debts or other forms of debts.”
Arif was said to have previous convictions for possession of a firearm and Sharif had previous for