MANCHESTER, UK — Former UFC signee Pietro Menga has been sentenced to 15 and a half years in prison after being convicted for his involvement in organized crime.
Menga, 37, was arrested in January 2024 as part of Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) “Operation Foam,” which aimed to uncover criminal activities conducted via the encrypted messaging service, EncroChat. The former fighter pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited weapons and conspiracy to supply cocaine.
According to GMP, Menga served as a middleman for a criminal group, facilitating the sale of drugs and weapons, with the estimated value of the drug deals ranging between $652,000 and $825,000 (£490,000 to £620,000). The operation led to over 300 arrests of individuals involved in illegal activities using EncroChat.
Menga’s conviction highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat organized crime in the UK, particularly through the use of encrypted communication platforms.
