Growing list SE London criminals sentenced in Encrochat bust

The clandestine 'Encrochat' communication software was previously popular in the criminal underworld for its encrypted messaging that allowed organized crime operations to communicate and coordinate their actions under the radar of police.

In recent months however, joint operations from police in Europe, namely France and the Netherlands, allowed specialised officers to effectively hack the Encrochat software and so catch a large number of wanted criminals, including many who operated out of South East London.

We've compiled an updated list below featuring some of the latest arrests that were made following the Encrochat bust.

Karl Lockey, Dartford

Karl Lockey, Dartford, has been jailed for money laundering after £630,000 was found stuffed away in his home.

Lockey was jailed for money laundering after police uncovered a staggering £630,000 stuffed in carrier bags in his Dartford home, as News Shopper reported on October 2.

Messages on the Encrochat system were read by investigators, indicating the 32-year-old was involved with money laundering.

The now infiltrated communications system showed conversations arranging meetings with secret verbal passwords, discussions and pictures of the hoarded cash and receipts of the counted amounts.

The police force said a number of high-value items indicating his criminal lifestyle were seized at his home, including motorcycles, designer clothes and expensive fishing equipment.

Lockey pleaded guilty to money laundering and was jailed for two years following a Maidstone Crown Court hearing.

Eight men aged between 21-47 and a 26-year-old woman

Image purporting to show drugs seized by police in a series of raids in SE London, Kent and Sussex yesterday (September 22).

The above nine people were arrested after a large series of raids targeted properties in across South East London, Sussex and Kent on September 22.

The arrests were made "for a number of different offences including conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (namely cocaine) and being concerned in the acquisition / retention / concealment / disposal of criminal property (namely cash) under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA)," a spokesperson for the Met Police said on Wednesday, September 23.

Around £60,000 in cash and approximately 10 kilos of Class A drugs were seized during the raids, which took place after police targeted messaging apps including Encrochat.

Detective Inspector Gail Lilley, from the Met’s 'Flying Squad', said:

"Organised Criminal Networks (OCNs) that think they can use encrypted devices, such as EncroChat, to smuggle drugs or weapons into and around the country are now looking over their shoulders as they know that police forces throughout the UK are working together to arrest and prosecute them for their crimes."

Jody Hall and Harry El Araby

The pair including Bromley man Hall were arrested and later jailed after a police raid in Mottingham uncovered three guns, £14,000 in cash and a large quantity of cocaine.

Hall was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and El Araby was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.

They both pleaded guilty at the same court on Tuesday, 30 June.

Hall pleaded guilty to one count of supplying a firearm, two counts of possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a class A drug (cocaine) with intent to supply.

El Araby pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, ammunition and a silencer.