Hull Crown Court heard how encrypted phone messages – sent from the nickname ‘Peakyblinder’ – were decoded by international investigators
A drugs baron nicknamed “Peakyblinder” used a supposedly ‘fool-proof’ encrypted phone system to organise and direct the buying and selling of huge amounts of drugs from abroad on a “commercial scale”. Qualified quantity surveyor Ryan Morris was involved in arranging potentially lucrative hauls of cocaine and heroin as well as other drugs, tobacco and unlicensed fireworks after “greed got the better” of him.
He was making significant sums of money to fund luxury purchases of Rolex watches and designer clothes but disaster struck after the encrypted phone messages were finally “decoded” by international investigators, Hull Crown Court heard. Morris, 36, of Kelgate Close, Hull, denied conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine as well as possessing cash as criminal property between April 7 and May 29, 2020 but he was convicted by a jury after a seven-day trial.
He admitted fraudulently evading duty on tobacco, storing fireworks without a licence between April 7 and November 11, 2020 and possessing £38,105 cash, found at Dover in Kent, as criminal property on May 13, 2020 and cash in a pallet on May 28, 2020. He also admitted possessing nitrous oxide with intent to supply after changing his plea.
Ben Campbell, prosecuting, said that Morris was involved in the illegal importation from abroad of drugs, including cocaine and heroin, as well as tobacco and fireworks and their onward distribution. There were discussions among the conspirators about current prices, how to get the goods into this country and how to make arrangements for payment.
“The defendant was involved in all of that,” said Mr Campbell. “He has accepted being part of some of it – though not all.”
Morris used an encrypted chat system that users thought was so secure that the police could not break it. “It was only available on a small number of specially adapted handsets,” said Mr Campbell.
The encrypted user was identified by a unique nickname – and it was “Peakyblinder” in the case of Morris. It was a system that was attractive only to “those with something significant to hide”.
International police managed to arrange covert monitoring of data that was exchanged and the Peakyblinder user name was revealed in France. Large numbers of messages were discovered.
Investigations revealed that “Peakyblinder” was working at a “significant scale in the drugs world” and was involved in buying heroin, cocaine and, to a lesser extent, methamphetamine in kilogram amounts to trade on to others.
“Peakyblinder was involved in the importation of the products from overseas and the movement of large amounts of cash to fund this and was involved in importing and distributing cigarettes and tobacco,” said Mr Campbell.
A Border Force officer happened to see a man get out of a white van and hand a rucksack to the driver of a parked lorry at Dover. The lorry was later stopped and the rucksack was found to have a package of cash totalling £38,105.
It was wrapped in a distinctive wrapping used by the girlfriend of Morris. “His fingerprints were found on both the inner and outer packaging,” said Mr Campbell.
Morris was arrested in November 2020 and searches were made of several addresses and premises. “Large quantities of tobacco and cigarettes were seized, along with nitrous oxide containers and fireworks containing 19kg of explosive material,” said Mr Campbell.
Morris admitted that he had fraudulently evaded £314,580 in duty for tobacco that he had imported and that he stored fireworks without a licence. He admitted possessing nitrous oxide – a psychoactive substance – with intent to supply it.
Morris claimed that he used the Peakyblinder encrypted chat only for arranging the supply of illegal tobacco and that he was not the only person who used the phone and that two associates also used it. Mr Campbell claimed that this was an “implausible attempt” to avoid the consequences of the most serious aspects of the criminality that he was involved in.
Morris told the court during his defence evidence that he was a qualified quantity surveyor of about 10 years. He had been earning £5,000 a month in 2020 but the job ended during lockdown and he had no work.
He had a gambling problem involving big bets and he realised that he could make money from cigarettes. He claimed that he was not involved in drugs at all and that there were no messages from him about drugs. He admitted packaging £38,105 cash but claimed that it was not all his.
“I have never had anything to do with drugs,” he claimed. “At no point was I ever involved in Class A drugs.”
He admitted storing 16 boxes of tobacco for someone and being involved with fireworks. During cross-examination, he admitted telling a series of lies. He had previous convictions for dangerous driving and a minor public disorder matter but nothing for drugs.
Dale Brook, mitigating, said that the family of Morris would be hit hard by him receiving an inevitable lengthy prison sentence. Morris had been on bail during the trial but he was remanded in custody overnight after being convicted by the jury.
Judge John Thackray KC told Morris that the offending was revealed by the successful decoding in 2020 of an encrypted communication system which, at the time, was widely used by organised criminals. Morris used the Peakyblinder phone and he was playing a leading role.
“The communications revealed that Peakyblinder was directing and organising the buying and selling of Class A drugs on a commercial scale,” said Judge Thackray. “Peakyblinder had links to and influence on others in the chain.
“Indeed, he paid wages to others and organised couriers. He – namely you – had close links to the original source in Holland.” High purities of drugs were involved. “There was an expectation of substantial financial gain,” said Judge Thackray.
“This would have been achieved by the cutting of the drugs and selling them on. You used a business as cover. Indeed, you used your partner’s business as cover. You used, among other things, her liveried van.”
Cash sums of £38,105 and £57,600 were found. There were Rolex watches and designer clothes.
“You are well aware of the devastation and destruction caused by Class A drugs,” said Judge Thackray. “Sadly, greed got the better of you. You were not satisfied from making significant sums of money from tobacco and you took to Class A drugs.”
Morris was jailed for 16 years.
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