Drugs gang who went under the names of ‘Golden Harbour’, ‘Butch Hippo’ and ‘Amused Penguin’ on encrypted EncroChat network and sold at least 6kg of ‘high quality’ cocaine are jailed for 18 years
- Niall Chinnock, 49, Zoe Hutson, 35, and Kirt Hutson, 37, all in cocaine empire
- The ‘Golden Harbour’ codenamed outfit was busted after law hacked EncroChat
- They had used the messaging system to buy drugs wholesale to distribute
Cocaine kingpins codenamed Golden Harbour and Amused Penguin have been jailed after secret phone network EncroChat was compromised by investigators.
Niall Chinnock, 49, Zoe Hutson, 35, and Kirt Hutson, 37, were today serving combined sentences of 18 years behind bars after their drug business was exposed.
Chinnock – from Wellingborough – used the Golden Harbour identity, to plot with two other profiles named Butch Hippo and Amused Penguin on EncroChat.
Until 2020 and its dismantling the Europe-based message network and service provider used primarily by organized crime members to plan criminal activities
Chinnock bought wholesale amounts of drugs which he supplied onward to other suppliers in Northamptonshire.
Between March 31, and May 27, 2020, he bought 6kg of cocaine using EncroChat to arrange the deals.
Niall Chinnock, 49, called himself Golden Harbour as he bought drugs in large scale to sell
Zoe Hutson, 35, and Kirt Hutson, 37, let Chinnock use their house as his drugs stockroom
A block of cocaine worth £80,000 found inside with three further bags of cocaine worth £6k
There was £34,000 in cash discovered in the search of the Northamptonshire property
He stored his stash at the Hutsons’ home and even had his own key to come and go as he pleased.
But after the phone network was compromised by the NCA and partner agencies the high-value business was brought to an end.
On May 27, 2020, at 11.30am, Chinnock was stopped in a white Peugeot Partner Van off the A45 near Stanwick.
Inside were four bags of high-purity cocaine, believed to be samples for his onward suppliers.
Police also seized two mobile phones, one of which was an encrypted device with the ability to use EncroChat.
The Hutsons address’ was then searched and two rucksacks and a cash counting machine were found on top of a wardrobe in the spare room.
Each rucksack contained a safe, one with a kilo block of cocaine worth £80,000 found inside. Also in the rucksacks were three further bags of cocaine worth £6,000, £34,000 in cash, disposable gloves and elastic bands.
Found elsewhere in the house were scales, re-sealable ‘dealer’ bags and smaller amounts of cocaine.
Chinnock and both Hutsons pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to supply cocaine at a court hearing in November last year.
On Monday at Northampton Crown Court this week (February 28), Chinnock was handed ten years in prison with the other two getting four years apiece.
Lead Investigator Hazel Score from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: ‘Niall Chinnock used sophisticated means to run his drugs business.
‘In a ten-week period he spent over £240,000 on bringing drugs into Northamptonshire to be supplied in the county for profit.
‘The Hutsons were important to his operation, allowing him to store his drugs and cash float away from his own address to help him facilitate the sale of this cocaine.
‘I hope all three of them use their time inside to reflect on the poor choices they have each made, in order to make better ones when they are eventually released.
‘Tackling the supply of drugs will always be a priority for the police and I am pleased that this operation was able to disrupt a persistent and high-volume drug supply network.’
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