One of the UK’s most wanted men was arrested while riding an e-bike in Marbella.
Dean Garforth was put on the National Crime Agency’s most wanted list after he fled to Spain in 2020. Garforth, of Regency Park, Widnes, was operating at the top of an EncroChat communications network organising the supply of Class A and Class B drugs.
After being on the run for two years, the 31-year-old was caught riding an e-bike on a street in Nueva Andalucia, Marbella, when he was arrested in a pre-planned operation, on Monday, October 24, 2022. It was reported that when he realised plain-clothed officers were closing in, Garforth, who was wearing sports clothes, sunglasses, and a cap, rode the bike into an officer and resisted arrest.
READ MORE: Man fighting for life after being found injured in street
READ MORE: Try the Liverpool Echo Premium app and get the first month free
He was then extradited from Spain to the UK on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. On his return, he was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply cannabis, and conspiracy to supply weapons and ammunition and this week, he was sentenced to 19 years and six months in prison at Chester Crown Court.
Detectives from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) began building a case against Garforth in April 2020, monitoring and analysing the messages he was sending on the EncroChat platform under the handle ‘Slickcliff’. On, Sunday, May 24, 2020, a white Ford Transit Van failed to stop for officers on Bradley Way, Widnes.
Police then carried out a chase and a search which led to a mobile phone being seized. The phone was later found to be used by Garforth to send messages through the now defunct encrypted comms platform EncroChat from March 2020 and July 2020.
Garforth spoke to his associates about receiving and arranging for multiple deliveries of cocaine, cannabis, firearms, and ammunition in and around the North West of England. A warrant was later executed at Garforth’s home address but it was established that he had fled the country to Spain and was actively evading arrest.
Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Nick Henderson, of Cheshire Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “Garforth, like many criminals, believed EncroChat would always be a safe and secure service to message freely and openly without being detected. Unbeknown to him, our detectives were watching – gathering evidence of his involvement in an organised crime group that sold and distributed significant quantities of Class A and B drugs.
“The encrypted device was previously perceived as being an untouchable way of communicating freely about criminality without being detected by police. Once it was cracked by law enforcement, it meant those using it would find it almost impossible to deny their involvement in serious and organised crime.
“Garforth also discussed where his OCG had hidden deadly weapons, with instructions on how to find them. These included semi-automatic assault rifles and pistols. Across our borders, we have witnessed the utter devastation and destruction that these firearms can bring, and I am overjoyed that another dangerous individual, who possessed and transferred guns in our county, is now facing severe consequences.
“This has been an extremely thorough and complex investigation, involving multiple partner agencies, but thanks to the work of our detectives who the analysed the messages, and an operation undertaken by law enforcement to have him extradited to the UK, Garforth is finally behind bars where he belongs.”
The Liverpool Echo – Merseyside news communities
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
