The ‘brazen’ offenders have been jailed for a combined total of more than 18 years
Timothy Gearing (left) and Roland Duffield (right) have been jailed after their encrypted messages were uncovered by police.(Image: Kent Police)
Two Kent drug dealers who referred to themselves as “Exotic Painter” and “Special Filter” on an encrypted phone network have been jailed. Roland Duffield, from Gravesend, and Timothy Gearing, from Kings Hill, were found to be involved in the supply of cocaine after messages sent via secure communications service EncroChat were cracked by international law enforcement agencies in the spring of 2020.
These messages were then passed on to Kent Police detectives who launched a thorough investigation. Criminal users of EncroChat would identify themselves through the use of handles or usernames to hide their identities.
Kent Police officers were able to determine that Duffield would refer to himself as Exotic Painter and buy cocaine, typically by the kilo. Gearing meanwhile went by Special Filter and would arrange for the delivery of the drugs to come from further afield suppliers.
The obtained messages also indicated he was involved in the production of cannabis for sale. Both were purchasing the cocaine within the wholesale market and, on a number of occasions, messages showed Duffield and Gearing met up to split drugs as well as exchange cash.
On November 23 2020, police found a vehicle in Snodland which had been reported stolen from London the year before. A search of the Land Rover Discovery uncovered 13 kilos of vacuum packed cannabis and a set of house keys.
The car was using cloned number plates and it was then discovered that Gearing was a named driver on insurance linked to the plates. When he was arrested at a property in West Kingsdown on July 5 2022, officers found a cannabis cultivation was found across two bedrooms as well as the basement.
The keys found within the stolen Land Rover were confirmed to be Gearing’s house keys. The following day Duffield was arrested at his address in Heron Hill Lane, Gravesend.
Duffield, 56, and 63-year-old Gearing were each subsequently charged in relation to their criminal enterprise, as well as drugs found on them at the time of arrest. Gearing was also charged for the cannabis cultivation and the drugs found in the abandoned vehicle.
At court, Gearing admitted the offences of being concerned in the supply of cocaine between March 1 and July 31 2020, possession with intent to supply cocaine on July 5 2022, possession with intent to supply cannabis on November 23 2020, being concerned in the production of cannabis between March 1 2020 and July 31 2020, producing cannabis on July 5 2022, and possession of criminal property on July 5 2022.
Duffield denied the counts but following a five-day trial at Southwark Crown Court, was found guilty of being concerned in the supply of cocaine. He was found not guilty of possessing cocaine with intent to supply and possession of criminal property.
Both were sentenced on Thursday, April 16. Gearing received a custodial sentence of nine years and four months, and Duffield was jailed for nine years.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Steve Brown said: “This was brazen offending by two men who thought they could get away with drug dealing by using an encrypted messaging service. The diligence and determination of police to break down the supply chain of drug dealing means that much like others who used Encrochat, Gearing and Duffield are now facing time behind bars.
“We will continue to target anyone who tries to bring illegal drugs into Kent.”
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