Aaron Bradford, 35, from Dundee, has become the first person in Scotland to be convicted following a trial using EncroChat evidence. He was jailed for eight years at the High Court in Aberdeen after being found guilty of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs. The drug trafficker, who used the EncroChat handle "Elpazzo", was caught flooding the country with cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis-laced "Wonka" chocolate bars.
How French infiltration exposed him
Bradford believed his conversations about his drugs empire were hidden from law enforcement on the encrypted platform. But French authorities had infiltrated the messaging service, favoured by criminals and gangsters, in 2020. The breakthrough triggered Operation Venetic, a UK-wide investigation that exposed organised crime groups operating across Europe.
The court heard Bradford was involved in plans to distribute significant quantities of cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis products, including cannabis-laced "Wonka" chocolate bars. Investigators uncovered messages in which he discussed a £17,000 drugs deal and flaunted a photograph of a large block of cocaine.
Raid and evidence
Police raided his home in June 2020 as part of Operation Venetic. Detectives recovered equipment linked to large-scale drug dealing, including a blender, hydraulic press and digital scales, along with paperwork detailing drug debts, customer names and amounts owed. The offences were aggravated by a connection to serious organised crime, and prosecutors began confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover any criminal profits.
The case was the first of many to follow, with EncroChat communications forming evidence for some of the biggest crime busts. Gangsters, drug lords, weapons dealers and county lines runners have been rounded up across Scotland after their deals were exposed on the app.
Justice and official response
Following sentencing, Sineidin Corrins, Deputy Procurator Fiscal for Specialist Casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: "This was a coordinated effort to release a sizable quantity of drugs into Dundee. But now, thanks to the efforts of Police Scotland and COPFS, this individual faces a lengthy prison sentence. We will continue to target all those who threaten communities across Scotland, not only drug couriers but also those who direct their movements. With each case of this kind we can help reduce the harm these drugs inflict on those communities. COPFS will continue working with the police and other agencies as a member of Scotland's Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce to ensure that these crimes are detected and those responsible prosecuted using all measures at our disposal. Proceeds of Crime proceedings have now been commenced to ensure the profits obtained through criminal conduct are confiscated."
Detective Inspector Julia Ogilvie, of Police Scotland's Organised Crime Unit in Dundee, said: "There is no doubt the excellent working partnership between law enforcement agencies is paying dividends. We will continue to carry out systematic, targeted operations which lead to arrests and cause significant disruption to the criminal fraternity. This sentencing underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country's Serious Organised Crime Strategy. We remain committed to our fight against those involved in serious and organised crime to ensure our communities are safe."
What was EncroChat?
EncroChat was an encrypted communications service marketed as offering complete privacy through modified mobile phones with disappearing messages and a remote "panic wipe" function. Although owning an EncroChat handset was not illegal, the platform became widely used by organised crime groups across Europe. In 2020, French investigators infiltrated the network, allowing police to read messages exchanged by thousands of users and leading to hundreds of arrests under Operation Venetic.
The Record's new series will explore Scotland's biggest EncroChat busts and the individuals behind the deals who believed they were untouchable.
