Specialist officers have seized £705,000 in cash and 5kg of cocaine from an address in Basildon - with three men convicted for drug offences.

Police investigating bespoke encrypted mobile phone messaging service, EncroChat, studied messages identifying Simon Renoldi, Iain Green and Matthew Hutchinson. 

The messages showed Renoldi, from Fobbing was involved in supplying kilos of cocaine with several different people.

This included Green, from Westcliff and Hutchinson, from Brentwood,.

The former were both involved in supply of MDMA and discussed supplying cannabis. 

Further messages discussing the sale of drugs lead to a warrant at an address in Basildon being executed where £705,000 in cash and 5kg of cocaine was seized alongside an Encrochat device. 

During the police raid, a notebook with handwritten notes and a piece of paper with notes were found, including postcodes for the Railway Tavern in Stanford-le-hope, which Renoldi controlled. 
On 14 June, Renoldi, 51, of High Road Fobbing was arrested at his home during a warrant where more than £5,000 in cash was found, a search of the Railway Tavern located a further £68,950 in cash.

Fifty-three year-old Hutchinson, of Talbrook, Brentwood was arrested at his home the following day, while Green, 52, of Ronald Park, Westcliff was arrested the following month.

Renoldi was later charged with two counts conspiracy to commit cocaine, conspiracy to supply ecstasy, two counts of conspiracy to supply a Class B drug, and acquiring, using, or possessing criminal property.

Hutchinson was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply a Class B drug.

Green was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply ecstasy, and conspiracy to supply a Class B drug.

All three denied the charges against them but, following a trial at Basildon Crown Court, they were found guilty on Tuesday November 5 and they will be sentenced at the same court on Friday January 10.

Detective Inspector Yoni Adler, from the serious and organised crime unit, said: “Simon Renoldi, Iain Green, and Matthew Hutchinson were involved in the large scale supply of drugs and the exchange of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pounds.

“Drugs ruin lives and destroy communities.

“These three men were making a fortune of the exploitation and misery of others.

“That is unacceptable."