ENCROCHAT: Met charges seven more with cocaine supply as encryption hack probe continues

SEVEN more people have been charged as part of the ongoing investigations following the hack of the Encrochat encrypted mobile phone communication system.

Detectives carried out warrants at addresses in London, Kent and Sussex on Tuesday, September 22 as part of Operation Eternal - the Met Police arm of the national probe called Operation Venetic.

The seven below were all charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (namely cocaine) and being concerned in the acquisition/retention/concealment/disposal of criminal property.

They were Robert Michael Ashton, 35, of Dowells Street, Greenwich, south London; Joel Tait, 40, of Abbey Drive, Dartford, Kent; Kevin Wood, 43, of Cold Blow Crescent, Bexley, south London; Daniel Gordon-Peiniger, 45, of First Avenue, Bexley; Joseph Peyto, 30, of Abbey Drive, Dartford; Gary Chapman, 32, of Greenways Crescent, Shoreham, West Sussex; Ryan Goble, 36, of Foredown Drive, Portslade, West Sussex.

They were due to appear in custody at Bromley Magistrates’ Court this week. 

French and Dutch law enforcement cyber experts managed to crack the encryption of the messaging service used by 60,000 criminals worldwide and around 10,000 in the UK in the Spring.

The NCA and British police forces were given access to real-time messages of organised criminals leading to hundreds of raids with so far more than 1,000 people being arrested nationally.

The Met has now arrested around 250 people with 124 of them now charged.