A major UK-wide drug trafficking ring has been dismantled, with its kingpin, Thomas Hooton, sentenced to over 10 years in prison. The National Crime Agency (NCA) successfully identified and apprehended Hooton, 30, thanks to encrypted messages he exchanged on the now-defunct EncroChat platform. These messages not only detailed his illicit activities but also inadvertently revealed his identity through references to his well-known father, Peter hooton, the lead singer of the 90s indie band The Farm.
hooton, of Victoria road West in Crosby, Merseyside, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to conspiracy charges involving the supply of heroin, cocaine, cannabis, and ketamine. The NCA revealed that Hooton, operating under the EncroChat alias “Ownraptor,” was involved in the distribution of approximately 42.5kg of cannabis, 3.25kg of heroin, 10kg of cocaine, and 1kg of ketamine, brokering significant deals across England and Scotland.
Crucial evidence leading to Hooton’s arrest included a photograph of his father with the Champions League trophy, shared via EncroChat. Further incriminating details emerged from messages where Hooton discussed driving a black Audi A3, mentioning that his “arl fella” (father) had arranged the insurance. Official records confirmed that Peter Hooton, known for The Farm’s chart success, had indeed insured a vehicle of that make and model for his son. The encrypted communications also indicated Hooton possessed around £400,000 and owed £258,000 to others.
Detective Chief Inspector Lynsay Armbruster commented on the case, stating that Hooton had been engaged in organized crime for an extended period before his capture.”His criminal and geographical reach will have taken considerable time to establish,” she noted. “His drug supply operations where on an almost daily basis, they were sustained and spanned the UK working with high-level criminals.”
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