Brendan O’ Callaghan appeared before Belfast Crown Court today, 14 November, in connection with drug offences linked to EncroChat, an encrypted phone network used by criminals.  

The investigation and today’s subsequent sentencing stems from Operation Venetic which, led by the National Crime Agency (NCA), was a collective UK law enforcement response to dismantle EncroChat.

The 37-year-old defendant was sentenced to 5 and a half years – half to be served in custody and half on licence. The court has also imposed a Serious Crime Prevention Order.

Detective Inspector McCamley from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Organised Crime Branch said: “EncroChat was an encrypted communication channel used by organised crime groups to plan illegal activity, such as drug importation and the movement of cash.

“Brendan O’ Callaghan’s arrest followed searches of a property in Crossmaglen in 2019 and 2020.  Here, various items were seized, including mobile phones, one of which was an encrypted mobile phone and cash.

“The defendant was charged with, and has pleaded guilty to, 16 offences.  The list includes criminal property offences, such as Conspiracy to Transfer Criminal Property and Transferring Criminal Property.  Drug offences relate to Class A, B and C drugs and include, for example, Offering to Supply Class A, namely cocaine and Being concerned in the supply of a Class A Controlled Drug, namely cocaine.”

Detective Inspector McCamley continued: “Throughout the case we worked closely with partners, including prosecutors from the Public Prosecution Service and the NCA.  The latter collaborated with Europol and French authorities to gather evidence, which was in turn shared with, and used to assist, our Police Service investigation.

“It’s thanks to such collaborative efforts, backed up the digital forensic evidence recovered by detectives from the Police Service's Cyber Crime Centre, that we are able to bring Brendan O’Callaghan before Court.

"This is an example of our ongoing commitment to bring those involved in criminal activity to justice. Working alongside our partner agencies, we will continue to disrupt the movements and activities of organised crime groups, who bring nothing but harm to the most vulnerable within our communities.”