Two drug kingpins who plotted to murder a rival gang’s courier were caught out when police uncovered their scheming messages to one other. James Harding and Jayes Kharouti exchanged thousands of texts under the aliases “thetopsking” and “besttopson” on Encrochat, an encrypted platform often used by criminals.
The pair discussed acquiring firearms and arranging getaway cars, as well as possible dates, times and locations to carry out the hit. This was on top of planning and coordinating the delivery of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine across the UK between April and June 2020.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police later exposing Harding’s role as the head of organised drug dealing network turning over £5m in profit in just 10 weeks. The 34-year-old, of Alton in Hampshire, was arrested at Geneva Airport on December 27, 2021, having previously moved to Dubai.
He was extradited from Switzerland five months later and rearrested on British soil. A jury found him guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to commit murder on Tuesday, June 24 following a seven-week trial at the Old Bailey.
Kharouti’s home was searched in 2020 after he was linked to the Encrochat messages but fled to Turkey before police arrived. A handset with the same number he gave to Harding was found during the hunt for evidence.
Later extradited, the 39-year-old, of Depot Road in Epsom, admitted his role in supplying drugs at the Old Bailey on November 8, 2024. He was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder alongside Harding today at the same court.
Both men are due to be sentenced on Thursday, June 26. Their crimes were revealed during one of the largest EncroChat investigations in history led by Met detectives.
Detective Chief Inspector Jim Casey said: “This conviction sends a clear message: no matter how sophisticated the methods, criminals cannot hide behind encrypted software. This operation dismantled a major supply chain and is a testament to the relentless work of our officers.
“We monitored their drug-dealing activity but then we saw the group discussing the contract killing of a rival. We moved fast to protect those in danger. Harding and Kharouti planned to kill, we stopped that and put them before the courts.”
This case is part of a wider operation to take down those who utilise EncroChat using information passed on by the National Crime Agency and European police forces. The Met investigations have so far led to more than 5,000 years-worth of prison time for criminals on the site.
Detective Inspector Driss Hayoukane QPM, who oversaw the EncroChat operation in London, added: “This represents our commitment to combatting illegal drug supply, as well as the serious violence that comes with it. Our work doesn’t stop here – we will continue to pursue those who profit from bringing harm to our communities and will continue to deliver our mission of reducing crime.”
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