Two men from County Armagh have been jailed at Craigavon Crown Court for multiple drug-related offences linked to the criminal use of EncroChat.

Jeffrey McClean, 50, from Portadown, and Darran McConville, 48, from Tandragee, were prosecuted after investigators tied them to activity on EncroChat, a highly encrypted phone platform used by organised criminals worldwide.

The case arose from Operation Venetic, led by the National Crime Agency with support from European law enforcement, which successfully penetrated the EncroChat network.

McClean received a sentence of five years and four months, with half to be served in custody and the remainder on licence.

McConville was handed an eight-year sentence, split equally between custody and licence.

Detective Inspector McCamley, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Organised Crime Branch, said: "Following searches of their respective Portadown and Tandragee homes, both men were arrested on 1 September 2020 and subsequently charged to court.

"In October 2025, Jeffrey McClean admitted to 13 charges. Numerous drug-related charges, relating to April and May 2020, included conspiracy to possess cocaine and being concerned in the supply of cocaine. He also admitted to transferring criminal property, as well as assisting in the acquisition of a pepper spray. DI McCamley continued: "In December 2025, McClean's co-defendant Darran McConville pleaded guilty to 16 charges including conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to convert criminal property, as well as multiple drug charges, including the supply of cocaine and cannabis.

"EncroChat was an encrypted phone network used by the global criminal fraternity. Essentially, it was used by organised crime groups to plan illegal activity, such as drug importation and the movement of cash.

"Thanks to the infiltration of the EncroChat network, criminals have been, and will continue to be, held to account.

"Here, thanks to an extensive examination of intercepted messages, we clearly see the involvement of both McClean and McConville in serious and organised criminality – from drugs to, in the case of the latter, conspiracy to murder.

"The investigation has relied upon collective efforts. We've worked closely with prosecutors from the Public Prosecution Service and the National Crime Agency. Internally, our Organised Crime Branch has had the backing of detectives from both our Cyber Crime Centre and Economic Crime Unit.

"Today's sentencings are a reflection of our ongoing commitment to bring those involved in criminal activity to justice. Working with partners, we will continue to disrupt the movements and activities of organised crime groups, who bring nothing but harm to the most vulnerable within our communities."

The judge also ordered a confiscation investigation to be carried out.