Drug dealers operated a drug delivery service similar to Deliveroo from a cab, offering users “crisps and prosecco” as a bonus.

Elliot Garrity, 44, and Daniel McLoughlin, 37, ran a ‘Deliveroo for drugs’ service from a black cab, using it to deliver drugs to users during the lockdown in 2020. They boasted of making nearly £15,000 in a week through this illegal delivery service, with Garrity making deliveries in his black cab after orders were placed by drug users. The operation was disguised as taxi fares, with customers able to pay using a card machine. McLoughlin, using the handles ‘Tabooky’ and ‘Wearyspear’, sent EncroChat messages bragging about earning £15,000 in a single week with the “best drugs line ever”. The men hired individuals to help with deliveries and their operation ended when they were arrested by Merseyside Police during raids at several addresses. McLoughlin faced a charge of exporting a controlled drug by sending ketamine to a storage locker in Australia, using vacuum sealed Starbucks coffee bags.

The court heard that McLoughlin and Garrity had plans to expand their drug supply line to operate 24 hours a day with multiple drivers working for them. Despite the closure of the Encro server in June 2020, the men continued their illegal business. The court was informed that the operation ended when police raided their locations. McLoughlin was arrested at home, where officers found hand written lists and a map used to guide the cab to deliver drugs efficiently. His defense counsel stated that he had worked hard to overcome his addiction and was looking to make a positive contribution to society upon release. On the other hand, Garrity’s defense emphasized that although he played a leading role in the operation, he was not the overall leader of the conspiracy. He accepted his guilt early on and was prepared for a custodial sentence.

McLoughlin was sentenced to 14 years and four months for his role as the mastermind behind the drug operation, being described as an “organised, ambitious, and wholly unrepentant drug trafficker”. Garrity was sentenced to eight years while Bolan and Smith received suspended sentences with unpaid work orders. Despite their efforts to evade police by using encrypted phones, their operation was eventually uncovered, and the defendants faced consequences for their criminal activities. Detective Inspector Mike Robinson emphasized the police’s commitment to pursuing drug traffickers and organized criminal groups, ensuring that those who believe they are above the law will face justice. The case shed light on the dangers and consequences of drug trafficking and the lengths criminals go to carry out their illegal activities, ultimately leading to their conviction and sentencing.