24 Hours in Police Custody uncovers encrypted drug network in Bedfordshire
The latest instalment of 24 Hours in Police Custody is pulling back the curtain on drug networks using encrypted platforms to do their deals.
The episode, which will air on Tuesday, January 13, looks at Bedfordshire Police and its approach to exposing the crime groups that relied on the platform EncroChat to coordinate their crimes.
‘The Secret Network’ takes viewers behind the scenes as they take down dangerous county lines networks operating across Bedfordshire and beyond.
Filmed in 2020, the episode follows detectives as they uncover a dark criminal underworld hidden in EncroChat’s encrypted messaging system.
In one investigation, messages linked to a Luton-based offender revealed his involvement in the supply of weapons and drugs. Digital analysis uncovered evidence of the man boasting about supplying firearms for a violent attack, leading to his arrest.
A second investigation included in the show focused on dismantling a wider drug‑supply network.
Detectives targeted high‑risk offenders to be able to work their way up the chain, ultimately identifying a key supplier and importer connected to the group.
The episode captures the early stages of Operation Costello, Bedfordshire Police’s largest and most complex initiative targeting serious and organised crime. Since it began in 2020, it has resulted in 279 arrests, 544 years in sentencing, 49 weapons seized and 10 firearms recovered.
Drugs seized as part of the operation include 288kg of cannabis, 7,551 cannabis plants, 26kg of cocaine and 2.6kg of heroin.
Detective Chief Superintendent Duncan Young, who oversees the force’s Intelligence command, said: “Our long‑standing partnership of over a decade with 24 Hours in Police Custody gives the public a transparent view of the realities of modern policing. It shows the skill, determination and compassion our officers bring to every single case, and I’m proud of the professionalism on display throughout this episode.
“The harm caused by drugs is the common thread running through so much of the criminality we deal with. Drug supply fuels violence, exploitation and fear in our communities, and remains one of our highest priorities.
“By exposing how these organised networks operate — and demonstrating the tireless work that goes into dismantling them — we hope the public will have a stronger understanding of both the scale of the threat and of our commitment to tackling it.”