Operation Dominating - Widnes OCG jailed following Cheshire Police investigation

Nine members of a Widnes organised crime group (OCG) have been handed substantial prison sentences following an investigation by our Serious and Organised Crime Unit. The OCG used the EncroChat network to arrange drug trafficking, and to attempt to purchase firearms. They thought it was a secure network. It wasn't. Our Serious Organised Crime Unit were monitoring a user on the platform - alias 'Mexican Nova'- but he slipped up. In messages, he called himself 'Col' from Widnes and '3 phones Jones' as well as sharing a photo of himself. We identified him as Colin Jones, from Parklands in Widnes. Covert surveillance was carried out which linked him to another man, Kevin Martindale, also from Widnes. The pair were heading up the wider OCG and were responsible for supplying over 50 kilos of cocaine and 220 kilos of cannabis nationwide. In November last year, we dismantled this OCG. Coordinated raids at multiple addresses across the North West of England resulted in the arrest of 7 men, including Jones and Martindale. Faced with a comprehensive casefile of evidence, all men were left with no option but to plead guilty to the charges put to them. In total, the 9 men received prison sentences totalling 74 years and 2 months. Read more about Operation Dominating - the investigation into this OCG - https://www.cheshire.police.uk/news/c...