Drugs kingpin ‘Big Poppa’ nailed over £1.3m cocaine and heroin ring after cops crack secret EncroChat network
A DRUGS kingpin was nailed today over a £1.3million cocaine and heroin racket after cops cracked a secret phone network. Darren Collin’s role in the huge supply operation was revealed by experts who decoded his texts to fellow gang members. The hood, 29 — nicknamed Big Poppa on the platform — is one of the […]
A DRUGS kingpin was nailed today over a £1.3million cocaine and heroin racket after cops cracked a secret phone network.
Darren Collin’s role in the huge supply operation was revealed by experts who decoded his texts to fellow gang members.
The hood, 29 — nicknamed Big Poppa on the platform — is one of the first to be convicted after the global hack.
A source said: “Collin went under the radar for years but he is a major player.”
Details of how Collin ran his illicit trade using the underworld network emerged at the High Court in Glasgow, where he admitted being concerned in the supply of drugs — connected to serious crime.
Detectives put the lift engineer, of Anniesland, Glasgow, under surveillance and tracked him for days in April.
He was initially spotted driving a flashy Audi SQ7 but switched to a Citroen Berlingo and started making deliveries.
Cops watched him take part in apparent drug deals, including collecting three large tubs at the city’s Dawsholm Industrial Estate on April 29.
Police swooped on the van in the Temple area nearby.
The court heard Collin sent a crony nicknamed ‘BashMan’ a frantic text from his V-Smart phone 60 seconds after he was nabbed saying “Been caught”.
The panicked associate tried to call him then messaged back: Run!”
Forensic searches of the van — which had a purpose-built secret compartment — and an Anniesland flat linked to Collin uncovered heroin worth £820,500, £505,580 of cocaine, substances used to bulk out drugs, a hydraulic press and £630,000 in cash.
And after experts cracked his phone, damning messages between Collin and his associates were found — including pics of apparent drug hauls.
Prosecutor Chris McKenna said: “The phone was analysed and found to be an encrypted device. The security was overcome and the phone was examined. Collin’s username was ‘Big Poppa’.
“The phone had messages linking Collin to the delivery of drugs and money as well as photos of illegal hauls.
“There are further significant messages relating to what is assessed to be criminality, like images of white blocks.
“These are potentially cocaine with different logos embossed, large sums of money and tick lists.”
The court heard “detailed instructions” given to Collin by a contact on how to package cash and where to drop it off were also found on the phone.
Following Collin’s conviction, insiders said lockdown may have sparked his downfall — as it forced him to get his hands dirty and make deliveries himself.
A source said: “Collin ran a tight ship and normally distanced himself from the contraband. But during lockdown his mules got scared because of the high police presence on the streets.
“They didn’t want to risk being caught so they refused to go out.
most read in scottish news
“Collin was forced into taking chances and it backfired. Like everyone else, he thought his phone was secure and openly discussed deals with his associates.”
We told how mob bosses and henchmen had used EncroChat to send messages using Wi-Fi in the belief it was secure. But law enforcement officers cracked it and spent three months trawling through 25million texts in a bid to prevent drug deals and gangland hits.
Drugs worth £25million, £7million of dirty cash and 56 Encro phones were found in Scotland alone during the Operation Venetic blitz.
Collin faces a lengthy jail term when he is sentenced. He was remanded in custody by Lord Armstrong today.