Two drug dealers jailed after EncroChat-linked operation stored cocaine and cash in old quarry

Two County Durham men have been jailed for a combined 40 years after police linked them to a drug operation described by a judge as well-run, slick and professional. David Cairns, 47, and Gary Mitchell, 48, were convicted at Newcastle Crown Court of being involved in the supply of Class A drugs following evidence gathered after authorities in France cracked the EncroChat network, a key communications platform used by criminals.

Over a three-month period in 2020, the pair coordinated deals for up to 23 kilograms of cocaine, with the drugs and a stash of cash hidden in a former quarry near Haswell that had been fitted with security cameras. Cairns operated under the EncroChat handle Tractor Driver, while Mitchell used the handle Military Farmer. The court heard the operation unfolded during the first coronavirus lockdown, and messages hacked by police showed good relationships with suppliers and customers, with the men described as part of a trusted network.

Judge Edward Bindloss described the scheme as a well-run, slick and professional operation, noting the EncroChat messages revealed a steady stream of contacts and a professional approach to pricing and logistics. He said the group operated on a commercial scale, with a clear division of roles and a focus on reliability and efficiency in their dealings. The security laid on the site—cameras and other measures—suggested a concern for monitoring and controlling the flow of drugs and cash.

The case outlines a three-month window from April to June 2020, representing a snapshot of their broader activity. During that period, Cairns and Mitchell arranged multiple deals and negotiated prices for 23 kilograms of cocaine, with the quality described as high—cocaine believed to be around 90% purity. The operation was designed to maximize profit and minimize risk, with controlled storage that included burying drugs, cash, and paraphernalia underground at Tuthill Quarry. The gang’s oversight extended to cash handling, as Cairns was photographed with about £180,000 in cash on the floor at his home, underscoring the scale of the enterprise.

Cairns, of Salters Lane in Shotton Colliery, and Mitchell, of George Street in Haswell, argued they had no involvement in the supply of drugs, but jurors rejected their denials following a trial. In delivering the sentences, Judge Bindloss clarified that the operation’s leadership and structure indicated a professional, business-like approach to drug trafficking, with substantial financial incentives and risk management that characterized it as a high-level criminal enterprise.

Cairns had prior convictions for drug-related offenses, including two substantial prior sentences: eight years in 2004 for dealing cocaine that involved the use of the same quarry, and a further 10-year term in 2010 for supplying cocaine. The combination of past behavior and the scale of the current operation informed the judge’s assessment of the defendants’ roles and the appropriate penalty.

The EncroChat investigation that led to this outcome emerged from a broader European crackdown after authorities in France disrupted the encrypted messaging network. The resulting evidence provided a connective thread across cases in the UK and elsewhere, highlighting how international law enforcement collaboration can uncover large-scale drug-trafficking networks operating through sophisticated communications platforms. The court heard that the intelligence gathered through the EncroChat breach played a central role in building the case against Cairns and Mitchell, who were described as central figures in a network that operated with a professional posture and a clear aim of turning significant quantities of cocaine into considerable profit. The sentencing underscores the enduring commitment of UK courts to dismantle highly organized drug operations, particularly those that exploit hidden storage sites and integrate logistics, money movement, and customer relations into a single, coordinated system.