Craig Mckenzie
Conspiring to supply Class A drugs *
Sentence
20 years imprisonment
Craig McKenzie, a 43-year-old from Hatchmere Close in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, led a vast drugs plot worth more than £2 million, sourcing cocaine, heroin, and cannabis from criminal contacts who imported them from South America or Europe. He was involved in the supply of 45 kilos of cocaine worth £1.62 million at wholesale value, 14 kilos of heroin worth £168,000, and 90 kilos of cannabis worth £436,500 between March and June 2020. He laundered approximately £400,000 during this period and used runners to distribute drugs to customers in Liverpool, Manchester, Wales, and London. Money from sales was sent to offenders in Spain and the United Arab Emirates. His criminal activities were exposed through the law enforcement hack of the EncroChat network, with 11,043 messages read under his 'Manlydesert' handle. Officers raided his home and found £33,000 in cash and £128,000 worth of designer items. He lived an extravagant lifestyle, including wearing a £250,000 Richard Mille watch in Dubai and driving a BMW X5 and VW Tiguan R-Line, despite declaring only £33,000 income from his property business.
Convicted of conspiring to supply 45kg of cocaine and 14kg of heroin with a joint street value of £5m, and 90kg of cannabis with a street value of £900,000. Later ordered to repay £1,115,901 under proceeds of crime legislation or face additional 7 years in jail.