Salford career criminal receives 13 years in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and firearm offences

A Salford career criminal has received 13 years in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and firearm offences.

Arron Corkovic (35) of Dixon Avenue in Salford, appeared at Manchester Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday 13 December 2022) to be sentenced for his involvement in the supply of heroin, firearms and ammunition.

Grater Manchester Police announced that Corkovic received a sentence of nine years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and four years for the S44 Serious Crime Act 1977 offence of intentionally encouraging or assisting in the commission of an offence (namely to transfer a firearm).

Corkovic had previously been sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for his role in a violent robbery at a Morrisons supermarket in Whitefield in 2013. He was released after eight years and bound by strict conditions imposed upon him through the use of a Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO).

During this time, he acquired an EncroChat mobile (encrypted mobile device) and ingratiated himself in serious crime across Salford Manchester, Merseyside and Dubai.

His crimes were uncovered when the EncroChat network was compromised by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2020, which showed Corkovic had been communicating with another EncroChat user, arranging the supply of one kilogram of heroin for the price of £16,000.

DC Steven Walker in GMP’s Organised Crime Unit said: “The conviction of Arron Corkovic is another significant result arising from the compromise of the Encrochat network – a communications network utilised exclusively by organised crime groups.

Even after being given the benefit of an early release under licence conditions, he immediately became involved once again in the most serious of crimes that cause the most harm to our communities – selling heroin, firearms and ammunition.

“GMP will continue to investigate and prosecute offenders for their participation in the Encrochat network under Operation Venetic and I would like to thank our partners, the National Crime Agency (NCA), for their assistance.

“I would also like to acknowledge the hard work of the Crown Prosecution Service and Counsel in this case for bringing it to a satisfactory conclusion.”