Runcorn man arrested in Netherlands in connection with drug offences

A man from Runcorn wanted in connection with the supply of class A drugs has been arrested in the Netherlands.

Andrew Phillips was detained as he left a house in Haarlem on the evening of Wednesday 30 March.

The 37-year-old was wanted by Cheshire Constabulary’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine as part of Operation Venetic – the UK’s law enforcement response to the take down of the encrypted communication platform EncroChat.  

The SOCU worked jointly with the National Crime Agency’s international liaison officer network and Dutch authorities after an EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement Warrant was issued in February 2022.

Phillips is set to appear at court in the Netherlands on Friday 1 April.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Murray, from Cheshire Constabulary’s SOCU, said: “We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the authorities in the Netherlands and the international liaison officer network from the NCA for their hard work and commitment to locate and arrest Phillips.”