Inside Greenock drug gang's 'secret' EncroChat messages

As Docherty and his cohorts begin prison sentences totalling more than 31 years, we can also reveal how a supposedly secure mobile phone network they used to orchestrate the flooding of Inverclyde with heroin and cocaine was smashed - in France.

Messages sent via the private EncroChat platform provide a flavour of the communication between members of the organised crime group (OCG) at the height of their major trafficking operation in 2020.

EncroChat was seen as a bespoke, safe and secret messaging service used across the UK and internationally. Advertisements were not found on the websites or in the shops of conventional mobile phone suppliers.

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Its servers were hosted by a legitimate company based in France - and it was the French authorities that instigated the collapse of the platform in a joint investigation with Dutch law enforcement, known as Operation Emma.

Each device, costing between £1,200 and £1,500 for a six-month contract, was assigned one unique identifier, known as a handle. Lee Docherty used 'renegadeball' and 'goldenshark', Ian Millar used 'sarcasticflamingo', Brendan Gillan used 'unrealegg', Daniel Gillan used 'warmhail' and Christopher McKellar used 'mrrr-celtic'.

Another handle, 'mrr-goldentrapper', was used by several different people and was permanently located within the flats on Oxford Road, commonly referred to as the 'shop' or the 'trap'.

The 'shop'

The Oxford Road flats (Image: NQ)

It was the OCG's centre of operations.

It was where customers attended to purchase controlled drugs. The property was well protected, with heavy metal doors.

CCTV installed at the 'shop' (Image: Crown Office)An example of the protection at the property (Image: Crown Office)

The OCG had access to flats on the first and second floors of the Oxford Road building, affording it a surrounding view. In addition, CCTV monitors were installed at the 'shop', allowing the gang to monitor arrivals and police presence.

The EncroChat device with the handle 'mrr-goldentrapper' was used, among other things, to alert members of the OCG and others to police presence.

Users were able to set 'burn times' for the messages they sent and received on the devices, with the default being seven days, while the entire content of the devices could also be deleted by the user entering a 'panic wipe' password.

Almost exactly four years ago, on April Fool's Day of 2020, French law enforcement installed a data collection mechanism on all EncroChat devices worldwide giving them the capability to download material from any user, including details, usernames, passwords, stored chat messages, geo-location data, images and notes.

READ MORE: Druglord and cohorts jailed for 31 years ran operation 'like a supermarket'

Data related to EncroChat devices which pinged in Scotland was ultimately shared with Police Scotland and reviewed.

The Greenock gang used various different sites to store controlled drugs such as cocaine, heroin, cannabis and etizolam.

The messages recovered show communication, in a mixture of coded and normal speech, related to the sale and supply of controlled drugs on almost every day for the period from March 26 to June 13, 2020 (80 days), during the first Covid lockdown.

Total control

Each gang member was, albeit to differing degrees, actively involved in the OCG's operation.

Advocate depute Alexander Sutherland told a High Court hearing that they were 'involved in the drugs trade for profit', while ringleader Docherty referred to it as 'a business'.

Docherty, described as the principal member of the group, is said to have been an 'established presence' in the local community with a 'large network of associates'.

READ MORE: Larkfield drugs gang boss Lee Docherty's 'period of reflection' ahead of sentencing

The advocate depute told the hearing in February that Docherty was 'in total control' of the sale and supply of class A drugs within the Larkfield estate and more widely in Greenock.

It was said that the other gang members 'answer to him', while Millar was one of his 'most trusted colleagues'.

Money, money, money

Twenty-three updates provided by money-man Brendan Gillan - who referred to himself as 'fronting a drugs empire' - over 76 days between March and June 2020, revealed a huge haul of cash taken in by the gang.

In another message on April 8, 2020, Docherty confirmed to Brendan Gillan that £170,000 would be moved to a 'safe house'.

Daniel Gillan provided advice on how to run the OCG, especially how to conduct business and control the activities of its lower-ranking members.

On two occasions, he made arrangements for deals with someone from Alloa, pointing to the group's connections with the wider Scottish drug trade.

Brendan Gillan, Daniel Gillan and Christopher McKellar (Image: Police Scotland)

McKellar, who had a lesser involvement in the day-to-day operation, arranged for the purchase and collection of drugs for Docherty. Indeed, on one occasion, he sorted the pick-up of half-a-million pills, while he also managed assignments of 'tops' - cocaine of relatively high purity.

Busted

EncroChat messages recovered provided intelligence which led to Police Scotland seeking warrants to search various addresses in the Inverclyde area, including on Oxford Road.

Following a search of one property on December 15, 2020, cocaine, diamorphine, cannabis and etizolam were found, as well as £12,775.50 in cash.

READ MORE: 'A blight on the community': Police worked 'tirelessly' to bring down drugs gang

Approximately 1,752.1 grams of cocaine was recovered, with a value of around £113,700; 1,054.11 grams of diamorphine worth £19,550; 1,372.91 grams of cannabis with a maximum potential value of £10,787.15; plus 4,106 etizolam tablets with a maximum potential value of £2,050. The drugs haul totalled £146k.

The quantity of drugs recovered was deemed 'excessive for personal use' and Crown proceedings against the accused started in July 2021 at Greenock Sheriff Court.

After guilty pleas were confirmed earlier this year, the quintet were jailed for a total of 31 years and eight months.