Two men have been jailed totalling more than 35 years in prison for dealing drugs using Encrochat.

Liverpool's John Barton, 48 and Daniel Rushworth, 33 of Narrow Lane, Aughton, were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court earlier this month.

Barton, formerly of Green Street, Vauxhall, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin and received 21 years, which includes five years for conspiracy to supply a firearm.

Rushworth, also of Deerbarn Drive, Bootle, was imprisoned for 16 years 4 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, money laundering and conspiracy to supply a firearm.

Barton used an Encrochat encrypted device between March and June 2020 using the name City-Hawk. During this time he conspired to supply class A drugs, heroin and cocaine in excess of 160 kg, and 8 kg of class B drugs, cannabis.

Among the messages recovered on his Encrochat handle was an image of a semi-automatic pistol, a Walther PKK, which he offered to sell to Rushworth.

Detectives identified Barton from the encrypted data where he had shared images taken at his homes addresses in Walton and Formby, and vehicles captured in the images.

Rushworth also used Encrochat encrypted device between March and June 2020 under the handle Octo-Red and conspired to supply cocaine and cannabis. In one image it showed a secret hideaway that he used to store ‘tops’ which is a slang term for kilograms of cocaine. He also shared images of cocaine blocks, cannabis and large quantities of cash. Another imaged shared by Rushworth was of Barton holding what appears to be a small bag of cocaine.

Detectives also found that he regularly collected large sums of cash from other drug dealers, on behalf of others. He also stored and supplied cocaine and cannabis.

Following Rushworth’s arrest in June last year, officers discovered a secret room hidden behind a mirror which contained various quantities of drugs, nearly £100,000 in cash and a cash counter.

The lengthy investigation was part of Merseyside Police's response to Operation Venetic: an international operation targeting criminals who used a mobile encryption service, commonly referred to as Encrochat, in an attempt to evade detection when dealing drugs.

DCI Paul McVeigh said: “Following an investigation, detectives discovered that Barton and Rushworth played a major role in supplying drugs and selling deadly weapons via Encrochat.

“We recovered more than £98,000 in cash and drugs from the secret hideaway in Rushworth’s home – and this was a significant find.

“This latest sentencing joins a long line of other convictions that we have accomplished which highlights our success in arresting and convicting people.

“We will continue to keep this momentum going and pursue offenders who think they can lie undetected, as we are taking action and bringing them to justice.

“I would urge anyone who has any information about people they suspect are blighting their neighbourhood by supplying or selling drugs to contact us so we can take action.”