Flashy drug dealer led police to his door after encrypted messages cracked

Shaqueel Ditta (24/02/1988) of Kelso Place, Manchester, has been jailed for eight years. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Shaqueel Ditta made it easy for police to find him after sending boasting images of his city centre high rise balcony view. When police executed a warrant in March this year (2024), officers were able to compare the image to the identical view in front of them.

During a period from April 2020 – May 2020, Ditta was conspiring with dozens of customers on the encrypted communications platform to supply class A drugs. Throughout this time scale, Ditta was on license for previous drug offences.

At the centre of the investigation was the use of encrypted mobile phones, which falls under Operation Venetic; the unprecedented National Crime Agency (NCA) led operation which disrupted the encrypted communication system, Encrochat.

These devices were primarily used by criminals to co-ordinate and plan criminal activities. After receiving a referral from the NCA, detectives launched an investigation to trace who was behind the anonymous handle ‘lovablecrab’.

This soon led police to Ditta, whose messages showed him arranging and facilitating the sale of large quantities of cocaine. Ditta would often source the drugs, then sell them on to buyers immediately, without ever having to come into contact with the drugs himself. Messages showed prices in excess of £40,000 per kilo, indicating he was making huge profits.

With the illicit money he made, Ditta liked to enjoy a lavish lifestyle, dropping tens of thousands of pounds at luxury retail shops. During a search of his apartment, police seized almost £50,000 worth of designer clothes along with an oversized money jar full of cash and coins estimated to make up around £3,000 cash. 

On 14 March this year (2024), police executed a warrant at his city centre flat and he was arrested in his bed. Along with luxury items of clothing and jewellery being seized, police also recovered large quantities of cash.

PC Natalie Fairhurst from our Serious Organised Crime Group said: “Ditta felt he could let his guard down when using his Encrophone, confident that he could operate with impunity to move large quantities of harmful substances across Greater Manchester and further afield.

“However, his messages provided a valuable insight into his nefarious operation and Ditta was left with little choice but to plead guilty to his crimes when presented with overwhelming evidence supported by his own incriminating messages.

“Whilst Ditta contemplates his actions over the next several years from the confines of his cell, we remain committed to relentlessly pursuing those involved in drug supply and organised crime across Greater Manchester.”