An organised crime boss has been jailed for over 17 years after he "flooded" a Bucks town with drugs.

Paul Daly, aged 37, of Glebe Road in Milton Keynes, has been caged for 17 years and six months after he admitted to drug offences involving heroin, cocaine, cannabis and ketamine.

The organised crime boss was sentenced at Amersham Law Courts on Thursday.

A significant investigation into Daly by Thames Valley Police found that he played the lead role in an organised crime group that was supplying drugs across the Milton Keynes area.

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Officers investigating Daly found he acted as the boss of the group from March 30, 2020 to June 3, 2020.

Daly was eventually arrested on November 16, 2021 after encrypted messages were linked back to him.

The messages were discovered thanks to Operation Venetic, an operation which cracked the Encrochat platform used by many criminals to anonymously communicate with each other.

Investigators were able to link the Encrochat account 'Batspawn' to Daly, and used it to uncover his criminal dealings.

After he was arrested, Daly pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, ketamine and cannabis.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Andy Hall, from Thames Valley Police’s Serious & Organised Crime Unit said: “As a result of a full and thorough investigation into Paul Daly, he has been handed a very significant prison sentence.

“Daly led this conspiracy to flood the Milton Keynes area with class A and class B drugs.

“As a result of Operation Venetic, we were able to disrupt his network and infiltrate his Encrochat activity, gaining compelling evidence to bring about this guilty plea.

“Thames Valley Police remains absolutely committed to stamping out the production and supply of drugs in our community, and this sentence takes a significant organised criminal out of our community.

“Drug supply causes untold harm, particularly to those who are most vulnerable.

“Tackling this type of criminality will remain a top priority, and we will ensure the Thames Valley is a hostile place for dealers.

“Our Stronghold team will proactively and robustly pursue and prosecute offenders such as Daly, using both covert and overt tactics.

“I would also urge anybody who has information about drug supply and production to get in touch with police.

“You can do so in the strictest confidence, either by calling 101, or by reporting anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”