Dad busted after love of pigeon racing unveils identity in drug smuggling operation

A dad who used an Everton FC-related pseudonym in a huge drug smuggling operation was only busted after he was caught out and identified due to his love of pigeon racing

A dad, who hid behind a football-themed pseudonym to smuggle large quantities of drugs into the UK, has been caught due, in part, to his love of pigeon racing.

Kieran Hannon relied on contacts in both Spain and the Netherlands for his importation of over 100kg of cannabis into the country. In addition, the ‘well respected’ dad, who was also a community volunteer, acted as a ‘broker’ in the trafficking of cocaine.

In a bid to keep his true identity hidden, Kieran went by ‘Alex Awobi’ on encrypted communications platform EncroChat. However, it was his love of pigeon racing that exposed his drug secret.

According to Liverpool Echo , the Crown Court at Liverpool heard that Hannon was named as the user of the account ‘AlexAwobi’, a misspelling of the name of an Everton FC midfielder, who played for the team between 2019 and 2023. When the network was infiltrated by French police, they made reference to his interest in pigeon racing and a previous driving ban.

In addition, the 37-year-old, of Roscommon Street in Everton, also provided his personal details during his communications with a total 47 contacts over a data capture two-month period in 2020. Henry Riding, prosecuting, described how the married dad-of-two employed drivers to collect and deliver cash and enlisted others to stash drugs in their homes.

Hannon was also said to have been involved in the supply of "commercial quantities" of cannabis, instructing subordinates to man phone lines dedicated to selling directly to users. His messages also referenced contacts in Spain and Holland, with the defendant shown to have been a key part of a handover of illicit substances within the former country before they were shipped onwards to the UK. Overall, he discussed the supply of more than 200kg of cannabis resin and the importation of "in excess of" 100kg of the class B drug.

Hannon meanwhile acted as a middle man in the supply of 1kg of cocaine. He has one previous conviction for dangerous driving, which saw him handed a 12-month imprisonment suspended for two years in 2019.

Ian Whitehurst, defending, highlighted his client's community work and progress since his remand into prison, as well as telling the court that his five-year-old daughter had been diagnosed with autism. Hannon admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, cannabis and cannabis resin and conspiracy to import cannabis.

Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse on Tuesday, he was jailed for eight years and eight months. Judge Gary Woodhall labelled his enterprise as a "multifaceted cannabis business" with a "side line" in cocaine, adding in his sentencing remarks: "These messages showed your involvement in obtaining and supplying multi kilogram amounts of cannabis, as well as kilogram amounts of cocaine.

"You had numerous contacts. You had people working for you in this drug dealing business. You clearly had very close connections with those involved with the original sources. This was a well established business trading in cannabis. In addition, when the opportunity arose, you took the opportunity to deal with cocaine, although that was clearly at a much smaller scale than with cannabis and you were acting as a broker between dealers.

"It is clear that you have shown remorse. You have limited convictions for a dissimilar offence. You are well respected by those around you, and you have volunteered to work in the community. References describe your behaviour as out of character, although I pause to note that this was a course of conduct carried out over a period of time. This was not a one-off offence committed spontaneously.

"Your incarceration may well mean that your wife cannot continue with her studies as she has to shoulder the responsibility of caring for your two children. There was an offer of employment in civil engineering. Since being remanded into prison, your engagement has been exemplary. You are described as a model prisoner."

Hannon could now be ordered to repay his ill-gotten gains, and will be brought back before the same court next year to face a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Merseyside Police's Detective Chief Inspector Phil Atkinson said following today's sentencing: "Our work continues under Operation Venetic to detect and arrest those involved in the sale and distribution of class A and B drugs.

"We are committed to proactively investigating serious organised crime and we remain relentless in pursuing offenders. Our work to prevent criminals from targeting the vulnerable people in our communities with illicit drugs goes on, and we would always encourage members of the public to contact us if they have any information which could assist with our enquiries."