Rochdale (WDEF) — Kane Worthington, a 34-year-old man from Boarshaw Road, Rochdale, has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison for his involvement in the distribution of Class A and B drugs across Greater Manchester.
Worthington played a key role as a middleman in the conspiracy, coordinating with suppliers and customers in the drug trade. His conviction stems from a detailed investigation carried out by the National Crime Agency (NCA) under Operation Venetic, which targets encrypted communication systems used by organised criminal networks.
Between March and May 2020, Worthington, using the alias ‘loftyrocket’, facilitated the distribution of cannabis and cocaine, communicating with 25 different individuals. The street value of the drugs involved, approximately 4kg of cocaine and 16lbs of cannabis, is estimated to be nearly £500,000.
The case highlights the success of Operation Venetic in breaking encrypted communication systems, particularly the use of the EncroChat network, which was previously impenetrable to law enforcement. This disruption allowed officers to access valuable data, leading to Worthington’s conviction and sentence.
Worthington was sentenced to 63 months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, with a concurrent 36 months for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
