Bungling ‘businessmen’ acquired far too cocky operating secret empire out of a skip yard

A cocaine network gang used their skip-hire business to run their illicit dealings have been brought down after they became ‘too comfortable’ messaging over Encrochat

A gang running a cocaine network from a skip hire firm have been busted after they got “too comfortable” messaging on Encrochat.

Paul Connelly, Cristopher Boylan, and Cameron Ruddy exchanged details about their personal relationships, flight records, and social media accounts over the encrypted service. Encrochat modifies smartphones to allow encrypted communication between subscribers, it was used primarily by organised crime gangs.

When international law enforcement cracked the chat in 2020, the messages led them directly to the group. Detectives unearthed a massive cocaine trafficking operation based out of a skip hire on Wigan Wallgate. The group have now been sentenced to over 40 years for the conspiracy to supply the class A drug.

Boylan, 39, helped to mask the drug ring as a legitimate business using his skip-hire firm in Wigan, while Dean, 35, and Connelly, 35, were employed by a fencing company operating in the same yard.

They used the yard as a base for meetings and large-scale drug exchanges, with the skip lorries being used to transport hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash.

The money was then stashed in shoe boxes and shipped abroad, with messages from Boylan to his co-conspirators even bragging that this wouldn’t attract police attention.

Connelly managed the day-to-day operation with clients under the alias ‘wordyjay’. He shared information via Encrochat that ultimately led to his capture, including his age and details about his daughter’s birth and weight.

Boylan also disclosed details about his personal relationship, his own skip business, and his Snapchat account, which was linked to his personal email, all of which guided detectives directly to him.

Ruddy acted as an aide, processing orders for drugs and cash and storing goods ready for further distribution under the handles ‘apetoast’ and ‘unrealcafe’. He supplied ‘testers’ to potential buyers in Dubai.

On 19 May 2022, police carried out ten raids at addresses linked to the investigation, resulting in ten arrests.

Across these locations, officers confiscated large quantities of cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy, MDMA, drug paraphernalia, luxury items such as designer clothes, watches, jewellery, burner phones, debtor lists, and approximately £40k in cash.

Detective Inspector Carla Deighton from our Wigan district commented: “On the surface, this appeared to be a sophisticated operation.

“However, these men got too comfortable with their encrypted phones. By sharing their personal details with one another, they essentially led us to their doors and helped us build a case strong enough to put them behind bars for a long time.”

Christopher Dean, from Warrington Road, Wigan, admitted to conspiracy to supply cocaine and received a sentence of twelve years and nine months.

Paul Connelly, from Warminster Grove, Winstanley, confessed to conspiracy to supply cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and possession of criminal property.

He was handed a sentence of twelve years and nine months.

Christopher Boylan, of Keswick Place, Higher Ince, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and possession of criminal property, resulting in a sentence of eleven years and three months.

Cameron Ruddy, from Great Acre, Wigan, admitted to conspiracy to supply cocaine and was sentenced to six years.

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