London, England – Two men, Jimmy Gottshalk, 36, and Calvin Crump, 28, are accused of hiring a hitman named Michael Ematuwo, 28, to take out a rival in the drug trade. Ematuwo, convicted of manslaughter at the young age of 14, was allegedly offered £100,000 to carry out the murder as part of a scheme to smuggle £40 million worth of cocaine into Britain.
The plot involved Peter Thompson, 60, who was found in possession of a Glock handgun and ammunition intended for the hit. The trio reportedly made a substantial profit of up to £7 million from importing cocaine into the UK over a short period, involving multiple shipments totaling around 1000 kilograms.
Ematuwo, identified by Gottshalk as a potential hitman, was allegedly promised a significant sum for the job. Thompson has confessed to conspiracy to import large quantities of cocaine, while Crump admitted involvement in the drug supply. However, all three defendants deny the charge of conspiracy to commit murder.
Prosecutors claim that the conspirators orchestrated around 50 importations of cocaine into the UK, dividing the drugs into smaller portions for distribution. Messages exchanged between the defendants suggest that they profited between £60,000 to £70,000 per importation, amassing millions in just two and a half months.
Following Ematuwo’s arrest, Crump allegedly pointed out Thompson as a source for a firearm. Thompson was subsequently found in possession of a handgun and ammunition, leading to charges against the defendants for conspiracy to murder. EncroChat, an encrypted messaging app believed to be secure, played a significant role in the group’s communication.
The defendants were identified by their EncroChat usernames, with Gottshalk denying his association with the handle “notnice.” The takedown of EncroChat in April 2020 exposed the group’s conversations, leading to their identification and eventual arrest. Despite the evidence presented, the trial is ongoing as the defendants maintain their innocence.
Gottshalk, residing in Wolverhampton, Ematuwo in Brixton, and Crump in Redhill, Surrey, face multiple charges related to drug trafficking and conspiracy. The case sheds light on the intricate web of illicit activities within the drug trade, showcasing the use of sophisticated communication methods to evade law enforcement.