Huyton Firm

The Huyton Firm, also known as the Cantril Farm Cartel, is an organized crime group based in the Huyton area of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. Founded in the 1990s, the group has been involved in large-scale drug trafficking, blackmail, and violent crime. The gang rose to prominence by filling a power vacuum left by other notorious Liverpool criminals, such as Curtis Warren and Colin "Smigger" Smith, after their arrests and deaths. Over three decades, the Huyton Firm became one of the most powerful and secretive crime organizations in the UK, with significant international connections.

History and Operations

Formation and Early Activities

⁣The Huyton Firm was founded in the 1990s by two brothers from the Huyton area. They took advantage of the decline of other Liverpool-based gangs and quickly established a reputation for their ruthlessness in the drug trade. The brothers, Vincent and Francis Coggins, were known for their tight control over their operations, relying on a network of trusted associates and the use of encrypted communication to evade law enforcement. The gang trafficked large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and other drugs across the UK and Europe, establishing distribution networks in cities like Manchester, Glasgow, Swansea, and Plymouth.

Rise to Power

⁣Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, the Huyton Firm solidified its dominance in Liverpool’s criminal underworld. The gang became notorious for its use of extreme violence, including the use of firearms and grenades, to enforce its control and retaliate against rivals. The gang operated with the help of corrupt insiders within law enforcement, who provided them with information from police databases. This allowed the Huyton Firm to evade detection and continue their operations with near-impunity for many years.

The group’s use of the encrypted messaging service EncroChat was central to their operations. The service, believed to be secure, enabled the gang to communicate freely about drug deals, acts of violence, and other illegal activities without fear of interception. However, in 2020, French police successfully hacked the EncroChat platform, giving British law enforcement access to thousands of messages sent by the Huyton Firm and other organized crime groups.

Major Criminal Activities

The Huyton Firm's operations primarily centred on drug trafficking, but they were also involved in blackmail, extortion, and violent attacks. One of the gang's most notable incidents occurred in May 2020, when a stash house in West Derby, Liverpool, was raided by rival criminals who stole around 30 kilograms of cocaine, valued at over £1 million. In response, Vincent Coggins ordered violent retaliation against those he suspected of orchestrating the theft, including plans for gun and grenade attacks.

The gang's messages, intercepted via EncroChat, detailed how they sought revenge, plotting to murder those responsible for the theft. Despite receiving a £1.3 million payout from one of their targets, Coggins continued to plan acts of violence.

Arrests and Trials

The EncroChat hack proved to be a turning point in law enforcement's battle against the Huyton Firm. In the wake of the hack, multiple members of the gang were arrested and tried. Vincent Coggins, the gang's leader, was sentenced to 28 years in prison in early 2024 after being convicted of drug trafficking and blackmail. His trusted associates, including Paul Woodford and Michael Earle, were also jailed for their roles in the firm’s activities. Woodford, a known enforcer for the gang, received a 24-and-a-half-year sentence, while Earle was sentenced to 11 years.

While Vincent Coggins is behind bars, his brother Francis remains at large and is believed to be living abroad. The National Crime Agency (NCA) continues to pursue him, though his whereabouts are unknown.

Impact on Liverpool

The Huyton Firm's dominance over the Liverpool drug trade had significant consequences for the city, contributing to widespread violence and instability. The gang was linked to several high-profile murders, including the tragic killing of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in 2022. Thomas Cashman, a hitman for the Huyton Firm, was convicted of her murder, which occurred during a gangland feud.

The violence and drug-related activities of the Huyton Firm had a lasting impact on Liverpool's communities, with law enforcement struggling to curb the influence of the gang for many years. However, the 2020 EncroChat breakthrough has been hailed as a major success in the fight against organized crime, leading to the arrests and convictions of hundreds of criminals across the UK, including members of the Huyton Firm.

Media Coverage

The Huyton Firm has been the subject of significant media attention, particularly following the EncroChat hack. In May 2024, BBC Panorama aired a special investigation into the gang, revealing the full extent of their criminal activities. The program featured interviews with former law enforcement officials who worked to bring the gang to justice. It also highlighted the brutality of the gang's methods and their reliance on encrypted technology to evade detection.