Drug supplier who boasted of space for 10 cars jailed for 20 years

A drug supplier who hid behind the name of 'Luxuryfall' on an encrypted messaging service shared pictures of his cars, his garden and his house - unaware that police were watching on.

Lancashire man Simon Rooney used the Enrochat platform as part of his involvement in the supply of cocaine and mephedrone. Thinking it gave him complete anonymity, the 29-year-old also described about extensive work being done to his house, boasting his drive had 'space for ten cars'.

But the messages were recovered by French law enforcement and shared with the National Crime Agency, triggering an investigation. Following a trial at Oxford Crown Court, Rooney has been jailed for 20 years.

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NCA officers began investigating Luxuryfall’s messages in May 2020. Officers uncovered evidence he was involved in the supply of cocaine and methadone as he communicated under the handle 'Luxuryfall'. Rooney, from Burnley, also discussed importing cutting agents such as a horse wormer called tetramisole, to bulk out the drugs.

The 39-year-old was quickly identidied as the man behind Luxuryfall after he shared images of his cars, his garden and his house, and described the extensive work he was having carried out at his home.

One message read: “Mate I gutted this house its a nice area but looks like footballers moved in had it all k renders knocked walls out open plan massive kitchen dug all garden out on front made a massive drive fits 10cars…”

His guise started to crumble after Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport seized 336kg of tetramisole which they recovered from a flight inbound from Hong Kong, in May 2020.

NCA officers subsequently identified that the email address on the paperwork for the cargo belonged to Rooney. Rooney – in the guise of Luxuryfall – also shared an image of the paperwork via EncroChat, further proving his link to the cutting agents.

The large quantity of tetramisole was estimated to have a wholesale value of around £47 million, once mixed with cocaine.

In June 2020, Thames Valley Police officers investigating a fatal road traffic collision executed a search warrant at Manor Park in Kidlington. They recovered 60kg of amphetamine with a street value of around £600,000.

TVP investigators uncovered evidence that suggested Rooney had supplied the amphetamines to an organised crime group operating in Thames Valley and south east of England. Rooney’s DNA was later found on the drugs and packaging.

Together, TVP and NCA officers executed a warrant at Rooney’s home address in Burnley on 7 October 2021. He was arrested at his home and subsequently charged.

Rooney was convicted on Tuesday, 9 April, following a four-week trial at Oxford Crown Court in which a jury found him guilty of five offences relating to the supply of cocaine, mephedrone and amphetamines and conspiracy to acquire and supply cutting agents.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer, Andrew MacGill, said: “Together, the NCA, Border Force and Thames Valley closed the net on Rooney. By gathering irrefutable evidence of Rooney’s crimes we ensured he faced justice.

“We’ve also taken a large quantity of drugs and cutting agents out of circulation, so they cannot cause harm to communities or money from their sale be used to line the pockets of criminals.”

TVP investigating officer PC Adam Taylor said: “This is a fantastic result for everyone involved.

“My thanks go to everybody who has helped in this case. It has not been an easy trial, but I am grateful to the jury for their deliberations which has led to the convictions.

“Rooney is now serving a lengthy custodial sentence and a significant quantity of drugs have been removed from the supply chain.”