Four men jailed for 48 years over Sussex EncroChat drug network

Sussex Police have dismantled a sophisticated criminal group responsible for the large-scale supply of Class A and B drugs across the county.

Four men, described by a judge as "professional drug dealers," were sentenced to a combined total of more than 48 years in prison at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday 17 March 2026. The group’s activities were exposed following a National Crime Agency operation that infiltrated EncroChat, an encrypted communication service used by criminals to evade detection.

The Investigation and Sentences

The investigation, led by the Serious Organised Crime Unit, linked the defendants to the production, offer, and supply of various illegal substances, including cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, and amphetamines.

The four men sentenced are:

• Steven Morley (46), of Lewes Road, East Grinstead: Operated under the username “incrediblehorse”. Originally arrested in 2021 with over £180,000 in cash, he admitted 11 charges and was jailed for 14 years.
• Mitch Mellor (44), of Firle Road, Lancing: Known as “speedyballoon” and “easternotter”. He was arrested in Brighton with 12.7kg of cannabis and £10,000 cash. He was jailed for 13 and a half years.
• Ioannis Melitsis (48), of Hove Park Villas, Hove: Used the handle “metalica” and was arrested at Heathrow Airport. He admitted 11 charges, including offering to supply methamphetamine and 2CB, and was jailed for 12 years.
• Hafiz Irfan (44), of Milton Mount Avenue, Crawley: Operated as “snowtart”. Police seized £100,000 in cash from his properties and safety deposit box. He was jailed for nine years.

"Motivated Solely by Profit"

During sentencing, His Honour Judge Stephen Mooney noted that the men operated as a "loose affiliation" of suppliers who combined in various ways to exploit drug opportunities for maximum profit. The judge stated they were "entirely unconcerned" about the social disruption and harm caused by drug abuse.

Chief Superintendent Imran Asghar praised the meticulous investigation: “These men worked together and separately to supply harmful class A and B drugs which have a harmful impact on our communities. Vulnerable children and adults are often exploited in the supply of drugs, which is why we work hard to disrupt criminal groups.”

The dismantling of the EncroChat network continues to lead to significant convictions across the UK as police decipher the secure messages used by organised crime groups.

OFFICIAL SOURCE VERIFICATION: This article is based on an official press release issued by a Police Force. Document: Four men jailed over organised drug supply in Sussex

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