Elliot Garrity, 44, and Daniel McLoughlin, 37, set up a drug supply line in 2020 using McLoughlin’s black cab and card machine to deliver drugs to users and to collect payments. They operated as a ‘Deliveroo for drugs’ service, offering snacks and prosecco alongside their illegal activities to make it appear legitimate. The men boasted about making nearly £15,000 in a week through their lockdown delivery service. The operation involved the distribution of cocaine and ketamine, and customers could pay using the card machine in the cab after placing orders for drugs. McLoughlin, known as ‘Tabooky’ and ‘Wearyspear’, communicated with clients via EncroChat messages, bragging about the profitability and scale of their business.
Despite the Encro server being shut down in June 2020, the men continued their operations, expanding the business by planning to increase the supply of drugs to the continent. They hired others, including a 24-year-old man and McLoughlin’s partner, to assist with drug deliveries, aiming to operate 24 hours a day with multiple drivers working for them. The court was informed that McLoughlin was arrested at his home, where police found hand-written lists, a map of Merseyside with overlay postcodes to aid efficient deliveries, and evidence of exporting controlled drugs to Australia using vacuum-sealed Starbucks coffee bags. These activities continued even while McLoughlin served a prison sentence in the past.
During the court proceedings, McLoughlin’s defense lawyer highlighted his client’s struggle with addiction and the efforts he had made to overcome it. McLoughlin expressed a desire to settle down and leave his criminal life behind upon release. Garrity, on the other hand, was acknowledged for his leading role in the drug supply plot and his use of a reputable front business to conceal illegal activities. Although he accepted guilt early in the process, he was not considered the overall leader of the conspiracy. Bolan and Smith, who played limited roles in the conspiracy, were also sentenced by the judge.
McLoughlin received a sentence of 14 years and four months for his role as the main operator of the drug supply network. The judge emphasized his previous criminal record for drug supply offenses and his unrepentant behavior as a drug trafficker. Garrity was sentenced to eight years in prison, acknowledging his involvement in deliveries and accepting responsibility for his actions. Bolan and Smith, with strong prospects of rehabilitation, received suspended sentences and orders to carry out unpaid work. The police commended their relentless pursuit of criminals involved in serious and organized crimes, using all available resources to bring them to justice. The case highlights the danger and impact of drug supply networks on individuals and communities, and the importance of law enforcement in combating such criminal activities.
