Bedfordshire Police secure first ever conviction against people for equipping criminals with encrypted devices

Jason Russo, 33, Jamil Ahmed, 26, and Mohammed Miah, 32, all from Luton, were sentenced on Wednesday (17 April) after they were found to have equipped organised crime groups (OCGs) across the country with Enchrochat devices. 

Encrochat was an illegal system previously used to facilitate criminal activity by drug dealers and other criminals globally. In 2020 law enforcement agencies managed to take down the system as part of Operation Venetic, crippling OCGs. 

Now, in a first for the country, Bedfordshire Police has secured convictions against three men responsible for selling such devices. 

The men involved worked behind the guise of an established telecommunications business.

Specialist organised crime team Operation Costello found the group conspired together, supplying encrypted devices to assist OCGs with conducting their criminal activity undetected by police – which included supplying controlled drugs and firearms.

In total police have arrested 22 of the men's criminal customers for various crimes, including drugs and firearms offences.  

Jason Russo of Colwell Rise was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, while Jamil Ahmed of Leyhill Drive and Mohammed Miah of Sarum Road were each given an 18-month community order.

Detective Inspector Simon Mullan, from Bedfordshire Police's Operation Costello team, said: "This is a landmark case which has seen us become first force nationally to convict people in accordance with legislation that enables drug offences. 

"This has set a real precedent and our fight against professional enablers is only just getting started. 

"Professional enablers assist and financially benefit from criminal activity. Whether you are renting premises to drug dealers, doing electrical work at a cannabis factory, supplying burner phones, or providing any other type of equipment or service used to commit crime, turning a blind eye to what you are enabling is no excuse. This should send a stark message to you that you will be investigated and face judgement as if you had committed the offence you enabled."