Daniel McLoughlin, an EncroChat dealer, had his appeal against a lengthy sentence denied
Hoylake: An EncroChat dealer named Daniel McLoughlin had his appeal denied. He ran a drug service that was like “Deliveroo for drugs.” He exported ketamine to Australia and used a black cab to hide his activities.
McLoughlin, 38, started this operation in 2020 with Elliot Garrity. They advertised their service on Instagram. Users placed orders, and Garrity delivered them, using a cab card machine to disguise the payments.
McLoughlin used the names “Tabooky” and “Wearyspear” on EncroChat. He bragged about making around £15,000 in a week. He even planned to expand the business to run 24/7 with more drivers.
During the COVID lockdown, they added items like prosecco and crisps to their offerings. The prosecutor called them a “Deliveroo for drugs” in court.
On June 13, 2020, users learned that EncroChat had been hacked. Instead of hiding, McLoughlin and Garrity switched to disposable Nokia phones.
McLoughlin got his partner and a friend to help with deliveries. He even shipped ketamine to Australia in vacuum-sealed coffee bags. After that success, he wanted to expand further.
In court, police estimated they supplied 1.77kg of ketamine and the same amount of cocaine. McLoughlin also tried to buy heroin but only received a sample.
When they faced Judge Stuart Driver KC in March 2024, he called McLoughlin an “unrepentant drug trafficker.” McLoughlin got a sentence of 14 years and four months, while Garrity received eight years.
McLoughlin’s lawyer argued for an appeal, claiming the judge made errors. However, the judges decided the original sentence was fair, considering the serious nature of the crimes.
Later, McLoughlin faced charges related to a plot involving the Kinahan Cartel. He was accused of providing firearms to gang members but no evidence was presented against him.
