EncroChat dealer 'SwiftFail' plotted smuggle 100kg of cocaine through the docks

An EncroChat drug dealer forged connections in Colombia and plotted to smuggle 100kg of cocaine through the docks.

James Roberts, 42, who used the handles 'SwiftFail' and 'RoboticGold' on the encrypted messaging service, played a leading role in a drug hierarchy and sourced large consignments before distributing them via couriers. Although much of Roberts' illicit efforts were focused on Merseyside, there was evidence of a wider conspiracy that saw the dad plot to ship cocaine from South America, the Liverpool Echo reports.

But his efforts were being monitored by local authorities after the EncroChat was hacked by European law enforcement in the early months of 2020. At Liverpool Crown Court on Friday prosecutor Alex Langhorn said messages recovered by the police showed Roberts in contact with user 'FitzStopper' who was in Columbia.

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Discussions between the pair showed the plot to smuggle 100kg of cocaine through Southampton docks, but Mr Langhorn said there was no evidence to show the drugs arrived. But, the prosecutor said messages showed if the drugs would have been collected they would have then been distributed.

Roberts was also involved in considerable payments. On one example, he transferred out £169,000. The prosecution said across three separate conspiracies Roberts was involved in around 220kg of class A drugs, and handled over £1.7m in cash.

One of the men Roberts relied on at a local level was former soldier Darren Spencer, 49. The court heard Spencer, who used the handle 'ApeChest', mainly acted as a broker, who "arranged orders and collected debts". In a brief opening summary to the court, Mr Langhorn told the court that the two men were indicted in the same count on conspiracy to supply heroin.

On April 6 2020, using the 'SwiftFail' handle, Roberts directed another user under the name 'JuicyHyena' to write down the details of a 6kg sale of heroin to 'GinCleaner'. Messages showed that Spencer, in his role as the broker, chased the money, but when 'GinCleaner' hadn't paid, he turned back to Roberts for advice.

A message from Roberts to Spencer said: "F***ing clown this c***" and told Spencer to threaten him. It wasn't revealed if Spencer proceeded to make any threats. All in all the crown and Spencer's defence accepted in three separate conspiracies he handled 25kg of drugs and £150,000 of cash.

Both men were arrested on November 8 2023. When Spencer's home was recovered £2,000 in cash was seized, while an unspecified amount of money was found at Roberts'. Both men answered no comment during police interview, although Spencer accepted the EncroChat's attribution.

Mr Langhorn told the court Roberts had two previous convictions for five offences including battery and more importantly a conviction for conspiracy to supply cocaine in 2010. Spencer had two convictions for two offences for actual bodily harm as a juvenile and possession of a firearm without a certificate.

Roberts, of The Pottery in Melling and Spencer, of Regent Road in Vauxhall previously appeared before the lower courts where they both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin, conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to transfer criminal property. They were both remanded before appearing for sentence today.

Roberts' defence counsel Daniel Jones told the court it was accepted his client had a leadership role, but was not at the top. He told the court that in the years between the conspiracy period in 2020 and his guilty pleas in 2023, the defendant started his own company doing groundwork.

Mr Jones said the legitimate business had a number of employees and "demonstrated that when he is involved in non-criminal activity he is a man who can contribute to society". The court heard Roberts had been ill during the conspiracy period with Covid-19 and was "lucky to survive".

Mr Jones also told the court his client's wife and child had both recently been ill and added: "This took a toll and he is struggling with not having been able to be there for the recovery of his wife and son after very serious, life-threatening operations".

Matthew Ryding KC, representing Spencer, told the court his client had an impressive military record and served two tours of Northern Ireland. Mr Ryding described his client as "an attractive proposition [to crime groups] because of what he had done in the past" and called him a "reliable person who isn't easily intimidated".

The senior barrister added: "He is determined to be the father he didn't have...and considers being a father one of his proudest achievements". He added: "It's a personal tragedy that for most of his life he has been a positively good character, but knows he will spend his 50th birthday in prison away from his family".

Mr Ryding added that although Spencer was collecting large quantities of drug debts, he received "modest remunerations of around £6,000". Sentencing, His Honour Judge Brian Cummings KC said that due to the men's involvement in drug dealing being part of large commercial operation, he had to weigh up a variety of factors including how far up the chain they were and the length of time the conspiracy went on for.

The judge determined Roberts' role was more serious and the extent of the conspiracies he was involved in were greater. He told the court Roberts' "most appropriate description is leading role although lower rather than higher" and said his previous drug conviction was a significant aggravating factor. He sentenced him to 13 years and four months.

Judge Cummings told Spencer he had extensive personal mitigation relating to his military history. He sentenced the older man to eight years in prison. Both men, who sported greying hair and smart black jumpers, thanked the judge as they were led to the cells.