Matthew Byrne and Beau Devlin face prison for smuggling cocaine and laundering cash. They used EncroChat to organize crimes.
Cocaine Smugglers Byrne and Devlin Jailed for Combined 40 Years
Matthew Byrne and Beau Devlin face prison for smuggling cocaine and laundering cash. They used EncroChat to organize crimes.
Cocaine Smuggling, Matthew Byrne, Beau Devlin, Sevenoaks, East London, EncroChat, Operation Venetic, Money Laundering, Jody Hall, Chris O’Shea, Hatton Garden, Maidstone Crown Court, National Crime Agency, United Kingdom
Byrne got over 21 years in jail. Police found their messages on EncroChat. The pair received a combined 40 years. Byrne’s handles were ‘slickvalley’ and ‘officialcleaner’. Devlin was called ‘scalpcleaner’.
Their chats showed cocaine import attempts. This happened between March and June 2020. They used ports like Antwerp and UK ports. They discussed previous smuggling; maybe 10 tons.
Byrne also planned a prison break. He wanted to escape after his arrest. He used crime world connections. Devlin got a 17-year sentence. He admitted to drugs and money crimes.
The men knew smuggling routes well. They had contacts, even cocaine sellers. Bananas mostly covered their smuggling. They created fake companies as a front.
Byrne told Devlin to burn plain banana pallets because they could not sell the bananas. This was also part of dummy smuggling runs. Those runs cost £300,000.
Byrne talked about “plug cars.” These hid drugs and money. He contacted ‘the plugboss’ who built them. Drivers were offered £50,000 per trip to smuggle 250 kilos. Fuel costs were not reimbursed.
One load cost them £3 million. It was 600 kilos of cocaine. It would sell for more in the UK. Byrne also traded weapons a bit. He wanted Mac 11 submachine guns.
He contacted Jody Hall, ‘unbeatenmoose.’ Hall arranged for ‘The Boxer’ to inspect firearms. This was to confirm if they were a good investment. Hall was arrested collecting a gun Byrne sold.
Byrne knew about Hall’s arrest. He talked about helping Hall escape. Maybe they could break him from a van. Hall got 12 years in 2020 for his crimes. He is 51, from Bromley.
Byrne and Devlin laundered money. Chris O’Shea helped; his handle was ‘allstargin’. He owned a jewelry store in Hatton Garden.
The men gave O’Shea cash for clean money. They also got gold and watches. Byrne laundered huge amounts of cash. He bought gold for himself and others. These gold bars cost about £40,000 each.
Devlin moved cash and gold to/from O’Shea. Devlin asked O’Shea for new £20 notes. It was £100,000 worth of notes. O’Shea got a 3% commission.
O’Shea admitted to money wrongs. He also admitted to drugs issues. He got 11 years in jail last year. He is 56, from New Eltham.
Police arrested Byrne and Devlin in 2020. The Organised Crime Partnership did it. This is a mix of NCA and London police. They found £20,000 at Byrne’s place.
There was mail about bank accounts. Designer clothes were also there, plus a new Jaguar and a phone. He was building a house next door, too. His girlfriend’s house was searched.
Inside her house, they saw wealth signs. Designer clothes and villa adverts existed. The police found a Taser at Byrne’s parents’ house. It had Devlin’s documents.
Devlin’s place in Sevenoaks was searched. They found spray, bug detectors, and cash. Designer shoes and jewelry were there.
Byrne and Devlin admitted guilt on January 9 at Maidstone Crown Court. Gun charges against Byrne will be noted.
Byrne got 21 ½ years in jail. Devlin was sentenced to 17 years. Police said they led a crime group. They flooded the UK with cocaine. They laundered money through gold.
The criminals organized dummy runs in an effort to trick police. Byrne’s guns were a chilling venture, as these weapons can cause violence. This case is part of Operation Venetic, which brings offenders to justice.
The NCA led the EncroChat takedown. It happened in June 2020 and is called Operation Venetic.
Byrne got over 21 years in jail. Police found their messages on EncroChat. The pair received a combined 40 years. Byrne’s handles were ‘slickvalley’ and ‘officialcleaner’. Devlin was called ‘scalpcleaner’.
Their chats showed cocaine import attempts. This happened between March and June 2020. They used ports like Antwerp and UK ports. They discussed previous smuggling; maybe 10 tons.
Byrne also planned a prison break. He wanted to escape after his arrest. He used crime world connections. Devlin got a 17-year sentence. He admitted to drugs and money crimes.
The men knew smuggling routes well. They had contacts, even cocaine sellers. Bananas mostly covered their smuggling. They created fake companies as a front.
Byrne told Devlin to burn plain banana pallets because they could not sell the bananas. This was also part of dummy smuggling runs. Those runs cost £300,000.
Byrne talked about “plug cars.” These hid drugs and money. He contacted ‘the plugboss’ who built them. Drivers were offered £50,000 per trip to smuggle 250 kilos. Fuel costs were not reimbursed.
One load cost them £3 million. It was 600 kilos of cocaine. It would sell for more in the UK. Byrne also traded weapons a bit. He wanted Mac 11 submachine guns.
He contacted Jody Hall, ‘unbeatenmoose.’ Hall arranged for ‘The Boxer’ to inspect firearms. This was to confirm if they were a good investment. Hall was arrested collecting a gun Byrne sold.
Byrne knew about Hall’s arrest. He talked about helping Hall escape. Maybe they could break him from a van. Hall got 12 years in 2020 for his crimes. He is 51, from Bromley.
Byrne and Devlin laundered money. Chris O’Shea helped; his handle was ‘allstargin’. He owned a jewelry store in Hatton Garden.
The men gave O’Shea cash for clean money. They also got gold and watches. Byrne laundered huge amounts of cash. He bought gold for himself and others. These gold bars cost about £40,000 each.
Devlin moved cash and gold to/from O’Shea. Devlin asked O’Shea for new £20 notes. It was £100,000 worth of notes. O’Shea got a 3% commission.
O’Shea admitted to money wrongs. He also admitted to drugs issues. He got 11 years in jail last year. He is 56, from New Eltham.
Police arrested Byrne and Devlin in 2020. The Organised Crime Partnership did it. This is a mix of NCA and London police. They found £20,000 at Byrne’s place.
There was mail about bank accounts. Designer clothes were also there, plus a new Jaguar and a phone. He was building a house next door, too. His girlfriend’s house was searched.
Inside her house, they saw wealth signs. Designer clothes and villa adverts existed. The police found a Taser at Byrne’s parents’ house. It had Devlin’s documents.
Devlin’s place in Sevenoaks was searched. They found spray, bug detectors, and cash. Designer shoes and jewelry were there.
Byrne and Devlin admitted guilt on January 9 at Maidstone Crown Court. Gun charges against Byrne will be noted.
Byrne got 21 ½ years in jail. Devlin was sentenced to 17 years. Police said they led a crime group. They flooded the UK with cocaine. They laundered money through gold.
The criminals organized dummy runs in an effort to trick police. Byrne’s guns were a chilling venture, as these weapons can cause violence. This case is part of Operation Venetic, which brings offenders to justice.
The NCA led the EncroChat takedown. It happened in June 2020 and is called Operation Venetic.