The 'Golden Lad' and his trusted courier who are now behind bars
Two men, David Waterhouse ('Golden Lad') and Matthew Brierley, have been jailed for a combined 14 years for their roles in a major cocaine trafficking and money laundering operation. Waterhouse was sentenced to 11 years, and Brierley to 3 years, after pleading guilty to their crimes. The operation was uncovered through Operation Venetic, which targeted criminals using the EncroChat encryption service.
A cocaine kingpin who called himself ‘Golden Lad’ and his trusted courier will serve a combined 14 years behind bars after police dismantled their multi-kilo drug empire uncovered through the cracked EncroChat network.
David Waterhouse, 49, of Steps Meadow in Smallbridge, Rochdale, received an 11-year sentence at Manchester Crown Court last Friday after admitting to supplying Class A drugs and money laundering. Matthew Brierley, 29, of Huddersfield Road, Diggle, Oldham, drew three years for the same charges.
The North West Regional Organised Crime Unit identified Waterhouse as a key figure moving massive quantities of cocaine while operating under the Encro handle ‘Golden Lad’. Between May 5 and June 12, 2020, Brierley served as his courier, transporting 7kg of cocaine and laundering £61,500. Investigators linked Waterhouse to the supply of 224kg of cocaine and the laundering of more than £1 million through messages recovered from the once-secret messaging platform.
Police arrested both men during an early morning raid at Waterhouse’s home on February 21, 2023, seizing drug paraphernalia including scales and bags. The investigation formed part of Operation Venetic, the international effort targeting criminals who used the encrypted mobile service to evade detection.
Detective Inspector Ian Moore of the NWROCU Operations Team said: “This sentencing is yet another example of the significant results being achieved through Operation Venetic. These individuals believed that using Encrochat would shield them from law enforcement. However, our continued success under Operation Venetic proves just how wrong they were. We remain relentless in our efforts to disrupt drug supply networks across the North West. Working closely with local forces and national partners, we are committed to dismantling serious and organised crime groups and bringing offenders to justice.”
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