Two Kent men who used the encrypted messaging service EncroChat to orchestrate a cocaine and cannabis network have been jailed for a total of more than 18 years. Roland Duffield, 56, and Timothy Gearing, 63, operated under the handles Exotic Painter and Special Filter until international law enforcement breached the secure platform in 2020.
Their messages revealed a wholesale operation where Duffield purchased kilo-level quantities of cocaine while Gearing coordinated deliveries from distant suppliers and managed cannabis production.
The investigation into Gearing deepened in late 2020 when police recovered 13 kilos of vacuum-packed cannabis from a stolen Land Rover linked to him via insurance records and a set of house keys found inside. When officers eventually raided Gearing’s West Kingsdown property in July 2022, they discovered an extensive cannabis cultivation across three floors. Duffield was arrested the following day at his home in Gravesend.
At Southwark Crown Court, Gearing admitted to a string of charges including cocaine supply, cannabis production, and possession of criminal property, resulting in a sentence of nine years and four months. Duffield denied the charges but was convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine following a five-day trial and was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Steve Brown said:
‘This was brazen offending by two men who thought they could get away with drug dealing by using an encrypted messaging service. The diligence and determination of police to break down the supply chain of drug dealing means that much like others who used Encrochat, Gearing and Duffield are now facing time behind bars. We will continue to target anyone who tries to bring illegal drugs into Kent.’