Overview

• Anthony Dean was sentenced to 16 years and William Swann to 14 years by Judge Simon Medland KC at Liverpool Crown Court.
• French police’s 2020 EncroChat infiltration fed Operation Venetic, with messages revealing wholesale deals across heroin, cocaine and cannabis.
• The pair were linked to the handles OctoJam and OctoRain after exchanging selfies about their hair during the pandemic, confirming their identities.
• Following their January arrests, detectives reported evidence indicating Dean’s continued Class A supply involving at least a further 100kg.
• Dean admitted conspiracies to supply heroin, cocaine and cannabis, to import a Class B drug, and to launder money, while Swann pleaded guilty to encouraging an offence; police say the case disrupted supply and that Operation Venetic remains active.