Merseyside Police have uncovered a drugs supply operation in which a father-of-one used vans with hidden compartments to transport tens of thousands of pounds worth of cocaine. Austin McCormick, 47, acted as a broker in an international supply chain, sourcing drugs from Colombia, Greece and the Netherlands.
Between March and June 2020, McCormick used the Encrochat handles TuckShop and TinyTail to organise the supply of 25kg of cocaine and 21kg of amphetamines. The encrypted platform was later taken down by international law enforcement, leading to numerous arrests.
McCormick, of Fallbrook Drive, West Derby, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine) and class B drugs (amphetamines). He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on July 17.
Extensive Criminal Network
Prosecutor Martina Snowden told the court: "The messages are but a snapshot of the involvement, and it's clear the defendant was well involved in these activities. The defendant was communicating with 50 different handles within the indictment period. The TinyTail handle alone had 114 contacts stored."
Messages revealed McCormick discussing "boat jobs from Columbia" and a contact who had "slot vans"—vehicles with hides built in to conceal drugs. He also discussed using fake business email addresses to legitimise long van journeys during the Covid-19 lockdown when travel was restricted.
Defence and Remorse
Jamie Baxter, defending, said McCormick had limited convictions dating back 30 years and had never been in prison before. He highlighted letters written on McCormick's behalf, including one from his daughter and another from the defendant himself.
Baxter said: "His letter is both illuminative and candid. He doesn't seek to diminish what he did, but seeks to offer some explanation as to how he found himself in the position that he did. Your Honour has read of his health diagnosis and his hard work to rebuild his future, retraining as an assessor and heat pump designer who worked on government schemes until his near-inevitable arrest."
Reading from McCormick's letter, Baxter added: "I stand to lose everything I worked for. It's something I deeply regret. I'm sorry for what I have caused for my family."
Sentencing
Recorder David Knifton KC said: "You were involved primarily as a broker and facilitator in a conspiracy to supply not less than 25kg of cocaine and 21kg of amphetamines. You were also involved in discussions to import a further 5kg of cocaine, albeit that intention never took place. You played a leading role as far as the cocaine is concerned, being involved on Encrochat devices as TuckShop and TonyTail to direct and organise the supply of cocaine and amphetamines on a wholesale scale. You were clearly close to the source of the operation, which appears to be originally from Colombia, via Greece and the Netherlands."
He noted McCormick's good employment record, health difficulties, and financial problems compounded by the pandemic, but sentenced him to 14 years for the cocaine conspiracy and four years concurrent for amphetamines, totalling 14 years in prison.
