Operation Venetic: Drug dealer Fatjon Kurti used the encrypted communications platform EncroChat to deal with the class A drug, he has been jailed for 12 years after plotting more than £4 million in just three months.

Kurti arranged auctions on EncroChat using the handle, Botarrota”.

Between 26 March and 2 June 2020, Kurti was involved in deals to buy and supply at least 58kg of cocaine with a street value of over £4m.

In an effort to avoid detection, he created a front-end company called E&T Catering, which was registered to his home but did not exist as a functioning restaurant business.

Evidence from his phone showed he had a number of trusted associates dealing with the distribution of cocaine and the collection of cash, all coordinated. He received photographs of cocaine and bank notes which he forwarded to numerous contacts to discuss drug trafficking.

Class A drug trafficking is inextricably linked to gang violence and real suffering in UK communities.

The NCA works with partners at home and abroad to tackle drug trafficking and we will continue to do everything we can to stop men like Fatjon Kurti.