A man has been jailed for 14 years after tenacious officers dismantled a drugs and firearms operation run through an encrypted communications platform, Encrochat, in South East London.
Kirk Douglas, 43 (01.07.80) of Browning Street, Southwark, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Thursday, 30 November.
Between May and April in 2020, Douglas was involved in a conspiracy to supply a number firearms which included Scorpion, Uzi and Mac-10 submachine guns and several types of handguns. He had also conspired with others to supply large quantities of cocaine.
Through his criminal activity Douglas made a profit of £57,980 from this supply.
Specialist Crime officers and the Met’s Intelligence Team were able to review data and attributed the owner of the Encrochat handle ‘Lakepepper’ as Douglas in April 2021.
The team closed in on Douglas after European partners accessed an encrypted communications network called Encrochat in 2020 – passing data to them via the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Officers were able to attribute the handle to Douglas by sophisticated telephone data analysis and research into the Encrochat messages sent and received by him, which showed the large amounts of drugs and firearms involved in the case.
A subsequent warrant at his home address found a £57,980 in cash, further drugs and supporting evidence linking him to the Lakepepper handle.
Detective Inspector Jon Summers, from the Gangs and Proactive Unit, said: “Douglas arranged large-scale drug deals to make as much money as possible, with no thought of the misery and devastation he would cause in communities because of the violence it inevitably leads to.
“He traded and bought firearms to protect his organised crime network. This investigation has undoubtedly prevented deadly violence that would have seriously impacted communities.
“He believed using encrypted devices rendered him untouchable, and sought to facilitate the most violent of crimes. However, the Met is unceasing in our efforts to target and dismantle the organised criminal networks which seek to blight our streets. Ironically, the steps taken by Douglas to conceal his operation sealed his fate, presenting us with the very evidence used to convict him.
“The outstanding work by all those involved means the streets of London are a safer place. Had these weapons been purchased the consequences would have been catastrophic.”
Douglas was found guilty of the following offences at Inner London crown court on 7 September, following a two week trial.
– Conspiracy to transfer prohibited weapons, contrary to section 1(1) of the criminal law act 1977
– Conspiracy to possess a firearm without a certificate, contrary to section 1(1) of the criminal law act 1977.
– Conspiracy to supply a class a controlled drug, contrary to section 1(1) of the criminal law act 1977
– Possessing a controlled drug of class b with intent, contrary to section 5(3) of the misuse of drugs act 1971.
– Possessing criminal property, contrary to section 329(1)(c) of the proceeds of crime act 2002.
= Op Eternal leads the way in using precise, data-led policing to target those criminals causing the most harm in London – a commitment made in the Met’s A New Met for London plan. To read more about our plans to tackle violence caused by drugs read A New Met for London.
