Luton drug dealer has prison stay extended

A drug dealer involved in a high-level drug supply chain who also supplied criminal gangs with firearms has had his prison sentence extended by a further four years. 

In February 2021, Ethan Mitchell, from Luton, was convicted of possession with intent to supply MDMA, cocaine and possession of criminal property, landing him a prison sentence of more than five years. 

On the day of his arrest, he attempted to flee but was eventually caught by officers. Police searched his property and found cocaine, ecstasy and around £40,000 of cash in a safe. 

Messages on the encrypted communications platform Encrochat, used by organised crime groups, showed Mitchell was involved in not only drugs supply, but also discussions around the distribution of illegal firearms and ammunition.

Mitchell, 28 of no fixed address, went by the alias 'frontrunner' on the Encrochat platform, with police decoding messages showing his involvement in the sale and distribution of multiple kilogrammes of drugs worth tens of thousands of pounds.

Last week at Huntingdon Crown Court, he was handed a further sentence of four years and six months after pleading guilty to conspiracies to supply cocaine, heroin, cannabis, ketamine and MDMA.

Investigating officer Gary Hales, from Bedfordshire Police's Operation Costello, said: "Mitchell was a high-level drug dealer who knew the inner workings of the drug game – but also dabbled in the more violent elements of organised crime.

"People forget that drugs are intrinsically linked to violence and exploitation. Taking drug dealers like Mitchell off the streets ensures our communities' safety.

"This case also serves as a reminder that even when criminals are behind bars, our work isn't finished. We will continue to pursue them until the job is done."

Operation Costello is the largest operation in Bedfordshire Police's history aimed at tackling organised crime gangs, going after the major players involved in the import and sale of drugs locally.

It is the force's response to the national Operation Venetic, which looks at criminality concealed by specialist encrypted phones.

Cracking the encryption on these specialist devices has enabled police to shine a light on the drug networks suspected of being involved in the highest levels of serious and organised crime across the country.