Almost 350 years of prison sentences have now been handed down as Police Scotland continues one of the biggest organised crime investigations ever carried out in the country.
Six years after Operation Venetic began, officers have secured the convictions of 76 people, with combined prison sentences exceeding 349 years following investigations into organised crime groups involved in drug trafficking, firearms offences, money laundering and planned violence.
Police say the operation has dismantled a number of organised crime networks operating across Scotland and beyond, while warning that the investigation is far from over.
Although many of the cases have centred on criminal networks operating in Scotland’s cities, Police Scotland says serious organised crime impacts communities across the country, including the Highlands and Islands, through the supply of illegal drugs, violence and other criminal activity.
The investigation has relied heavily on intelligence gathered from EncroChat, an encrypted communications platform widely used by organised crime groups before it was infiltrated by law enforcement agencies across Europe.
To date, 161 people have been arrested, with detectives continuing to analyse vast amounts of digital evidence alongside specialists in forensic science and cyber investigation.
Among those convicted are individuals involved in the large scale supply of cocaine, conspiracy to commit violent offences and participation in serious organised crime, with several receiving lengthy prison sentences at the High Courts in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Police have also seized weapons, mobile phones and other evidence as part of the continuing investigation.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said:
“The success of Operation Venetic is the outcome of the interrogation of EncroChat data by officers dedicated to identifying and disrupting organised crime groups operating.
“Analysis of this data remains a priority and we will continue to use all available tools and intelligence to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
“We are continuing to interrogate data as part of Operation Venetic and working with partners across Scotland, the UK and internationally to identify those involved in serious organised crime.
“I want to make it clear that while this operation has been hugely successful, it is not over.
“As the operation advances, so does our ability to detect and investigate this type of offending.
“You cannot hide behind encrypted platforms to evade detection.
“We will continue to relentlessly pursue those involved in this type of criminality and bring them to justice.”
Police say further enquiries remain ongoing, with investigators continuing to examine evidence and pursue new lines of enquiry alongside partners across the UK and Europe.
Anyone with information about serious organised crime is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
