A major drug and money laundering ring operating out of Wigan has been dismantled, with four men sentenced to a total of over 40 years behind bars. The convictions follow an extensive police investigation into encrypted messages that uncovered a multi-million-pound drugs empire run by a gang using local businesses as a cover for their crimes.
The Investigation That Brought Them Down
In 2020, when international law enforcement infiltrated EncroChat, detectives from GMP’s Wigan Challenger Team received thousands of anonymous encrypted messages linked to drug trafficking and money laundering. Their job was to unmask the criminals behind the usernames – and they did just that.
Using personal details the gang carelessly shared in supposedly ‘secure’ messages, police linked the operation to:
- Christopher Dean – 12 years, 9 months (Conspiracy to supply cocaine)
- Paul Connelly – 12 years, 9 months (Conspiracy to supply cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of criminal property)
- Christopher Boylan – 11 years, 3 months (Conspiracy to supply cocaine, possession of criminal property)
- Cameron Ruddy – 6 years (Conspiracy to supply cocaine)
The gang used businesses in Wigan, including a skip hire yard, to store, transport, and distribute large amounts of cash and cocaine, moving drugs worth hundreds of thousands of pounds across the North West.
Encrypted Chats Gave the Game Away
Believing EncroChat was untraceable, the gang openly discussed their drug transactions, cash movements, and logistics under usernames like ‘goldflake’, ‘apetoast’, and ‘wordyjay’. But they also made a huge mistake—they shared personal details, including flight bookings, relationships, and even the birth of a child, which led police straight to them.
Luxury Lifestyle Funded by Crime
These men made huge profits from their operation, funding lavish lifestyles with designer clothes, expensive watches, luxury cars, and house renovations worth over £100,000. But it all came crashing down in May 2022, when police raided ten addresses, seizing:
🔹 Large volumes of cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, and ecstasy
🔹 Cash totalling around £40,000
🔹 Drug paraphernalia and debtor lists
🔹 Burner phones used for dealing
What Happens Next?
Detectives have vowed that this isn’t the end of the case. The Economic Crime Unit will now go after the gang’s illegal profits under the Proceeds of Crime Act, ensuring they don’t enjoy their wealth when they’re released. Any recovered money will be reinvested into the local community through the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS).
Detective’s Warning
Detective Inspector Carla Deighton said:
“They believed they were untouchable. But by using encrypted phones and thinking they were above the law, they ended up exposing themselves. Their operation was sophisticated, but in the end, their greed and carelessness brought them down. They made vast profits at the expense of the community, but now they’re paying the price.”
This case is a major victory for police and a stark warning to anyone involved in organised crime—you will be caught.
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