A violent organized crime group in the UK was taken down after police uncovered their plans to murder suspected cocaine thieves. Here are the key points:
- Over 30 significant criminals were jailed after £1 million worth of cocaine was stolen
- Crime bosses wanted to kill the men they thought stole the drugs
- But police had cracked the encrypted phone system the criminals used
- They could see the brutal group’s messages and plans for revenge
Do you want to know how this dangerous crime syndicate was stopped?
Encrypted Messages Exposed Violent Plans
A Brutal, “Industrial Scale” Criminal Operation
The crime group was described as at the “upper tier of organized crime in the UK.” From the cracked messages, police could see:
- They ran a massive drug trafficking business across the UK and internationally
- They were “willing to resort to severe violence” as part of their operations
- Murdering someone was just “another way of doing business” to them
The £1 Million Cocaine Heist
The trouble began when over £1 million worth of the group’s cocaine (around 30 kilos) was stolen from a “drug stash house” in Liverpool.
- Four masked men raided the house, pretending one was a delivery man
- They attacked two men inside with a machete and an axe
- A trail of blood led police to a maintenance hole cover where the drugs were hidden
Four Dead Men Walking
Two crime bosses, Vincent Cogin and Paul Woodford, thought they knew who was behind the heist. Cogin ordered Woodford to kill four suspected thieves, stating, “Four dead men walking.”
However, police were already monitoring their encrypted communications. Before the murders could happen, Cogin and Woodford were arrested.
Lengthy Prison Sentences For Dangerous Criminals
In total, over 30 serious criminals linked to the stolen cocaine were convicted and given long sentences, adding up to over 350 years in jail.
- Cogin received 28 years for drug trafficking and blackmail
- Woodford got 24 years and six months
- Other top members got over 20 years each for their roles
With their encrypted communications cracked, this incredibly violent crime group was stopped before they could carry out planned revenge killings.
Do you think the lengthy prison sentences handed down fit such brutal and dangerous criminal behavior? Leave a comment below.
