A cocaine dealer who decorated his Christmas tree with £20 notes and bags of a suspicious-looking white powder has been jailed for his part in a conspiracy to supply millions of pounds of drugs.

Martin Porcelli, 47, captured the not-so-festive snap on his smartphone which was later retrieved by Merseyside police and added to a long list of evidence showcasing his role in a major drugs gang.

Posting the photo on Twitter, Merseyside Police wrote: “Can you imagine our surprise when we searched the mobile of Wavertree drug dealer Marvin Porcelli and found this?!”

They later said: “Joking aside, these men were serious criminals, highly organised and some were well armed.

“They just didn’t reckon on the expertise, perseverance and capabilities we and law enforcement throughout the UK and Europe possess.”

Porcelli, from Wavertree, was apprehended as part of Operation Overboard, which sought to target a group of local drug traffickers over the course of the year.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how he was involved in the storage, couriering, cutting and supply of drugs of those higher up in the organisation and how the ‘conspiracy could not have operated without the actions he took’.

Nine men, including Porcelli, were sentenced on Monday 20 December to a total of more than 89 years in jail for their part in the conspiracy.

Porcelli was sentenced to seven years and six months for conspiracy to supply cocaine and diamorphine, and conspiracy to supply cannabis.

During the investigation, Merseyside Police revealed that detectives seized more than £282,500 of cash, firearms and ammunition and a substantial amount of Class A drugs with a street value of more than £1.3 million.

On the day of the sentencing, Detective Inspector Paul McVeigh said: “Today’s sentencing of nine men under Operation Venetic and Operation Overboard is a huge success.

“Infiltrating this gang of co-conspirators was an operation in itself, and it is pleasing to see all 11 offenders in this organised crime group jailed for their crimes.

“Our officers have worked hard in a year-long investigation to unravel this crime gang, which was under the control of Sean Burrell, who employed criminal associates to further his criminality.

“We have recovered cash, firearms and drugs following searches at addresses.

“The trial of Thomas O’Brien was the first involving Encrochat data in Merseyside, and there have been many more since. Despite him contesting using an Encrochat device his case went to trial, and the evidence against him was so strong that he was found guilty by a unanimous verdict in November.

“I would ask anyone who has any information about who is supplying or selling drugs in their area to contact us so we can take action.”
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