Bungling Encrochat vendor ‘spicy-meatballs’ taken down by beer-swigging selfie

An EncroChat user known as ‘spicy-meatballs’ was busted by his own beer-swigging selfie.

William Edwards used the encrypted messaging platform to supply cocaine and cannabis. But he also sent personal information including his birthday and the address of family as well as pictures of himself. One showed him confidently drinking from a bottle of lager.

The dealer was also referred to as Shaggy due to his likeness to the character from Scooby Doo. He was found with over half a kilo of cocaine, half a kilo of heroin and approximately £17,000 in cash when his home was raided by the police earlier this year, reports the Liverpool Echo.

READ MORE: ‘Time traveller’ returns from 2671 to warn us about 5 ‘danger’ events coming this year

Click for more of the latest news from the Daily Star.

Edwards, 29, from Frankby Road, Anfield, was handed a 16 year sentence at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday following an investigation into large-scale drug supply in Merseyside as part of Operation Venetic.

During the investigation, detectives were able to prove that Edwards was conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis between March and June 2020.

After Edwards pleaded guilty and was locked up, Detective Inspector James Boardman said: “Like many drug suppliers before him, Edwards helpfully provided a great deal of evidence on which we were able to build the case.

“Our work continues to put before the courts all of those criminals identified under Operation Venetic. Thanks to our extensive investigation, Edwards will tonight be beginning a significant prison sentence, and more will follow.

“Drug suppliers like Edwards have no thought to the significant harm their criminality causes within our communities, through the vulnerable people affected, to the serious violent crime which is often associated with organised crime groups.”

For the latest news stories from Daily Star sign up for our newsletter.