Woman who used her key worker pass to transport cocaine and heroin jailed alongside drugs boss
A woman, Debra Charlton, who used her key worker status during COVID-19 to transport cocaine and heroin for a drug boss, Faruquz Zaman, has been jailed alongside him. The pair were caught after law enforcement infiltrated the encrypted platform Encrochat, which they used for communication. Zaman received 18 years and six months, while Charlton was sentenced to eight years and six months. The operation highlights the success of police in dismantling organized crime networks using encrypted data.
Two Bolton drug traffickers who believed encrypted phones made them untouchable are starting lengthy prison sentences after international police cracked their secret communications network.
Faruquz Zaman, 44, orchestrated a wholesale cocaine and heroin operation across Bolton using Debra Charlton, 35, as his courier to collect and deliver drugs and cash during the height of COVID-19 lockdowns. The pair conducted their business through Encrochat devices they assumed were impenetrable, openly discussing drug deals and money movements on the platform.
Unknown to them, law enforcement agencies had infiltrated Encrochat in 2020 and were monitoring their every message. When news broke that the encrypted network had been compromised, both defendants quickly disposed of their phones and cars, but detectives from Greater Manchester Police had already gathered enough evidence to identify them.
Zaman, of Cable Street, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, money laundering offences and encouraging the commission of an offence abroad. He received an 18-and-a-half-year sentence. Charlton, of Robin Close, admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs and money laundering, receiving eight-and-a-half years.
Detective Inspector Rick Castley said: “Zaman and Charlton thought they were hiding behind an encrypted communication system that would keep their identities hidden from police, but they were wrong. They openly communicated on this platform and shared details of their daily lives in and amongst conducting criminal business, which has ultimately led to them going straight to prison.”
The investigation revealed Charlton exploited her key worker status during lockdown to transport drugs and cash without raising suspicion while travel restrictions were in place.
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