An MMA fighter known as ‘The Italian Stallion’ has been jailed for 15 years after he was involved in supplying hundreds of thousands of pounds-worth of cocaine.
Pietro Menga had a lucrative side hustle as a middleman for an organised crime group where he sourced large quantities of the drug across the Greater Manchester region.
The 37-year-old came to the attention of police after the NCA (National Crime Agency) infiltrated a messaging platform service that Menga wrongly believed was encrypted.
Specialist detectives trawled through thousands of anonymous messages detailing drug deals, firearms sales, and assassination attempts.
Menga was identified through posts where he openly spoke about his girlfriend, his knee injuries from fighting, and his home gym.
He later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited weapons and conspiracy to supply cocaine.
Believing his messages were safe due to the previously encrypted nature the Encrochat platform offered to service users, Menga, using the nameless handle ‘wirelessshark’, engaged in conversations with other criminals where he openly discussed the sale and purchase of wholesale amounts of drugs and firearms.
From the messages on his encrypted mobile phone, a drugs expert estimated the street sale value of drugs that Menga was involved in were worth between £490,000 to £620,000, with the MMA star showing no indication of slowing down or stepping away from the world of crime.
The 37-year-old (pictured) came to the attention of police after the NCA (National Crime Agency) infiltrated a messaging platform service that Menga wrongly believed was encrypted
Pietro Menga had a lucrative side hustle as a middleman for an organised crime group where he sourced large quantities of the drug across the Greater Manchester region (pictured)
Further messages also indicated Menga was involved with the OCG (Organised Crime Group) responsible for a record-breaking firearm trafficking conspiracy, all of whom were convicted earlier this year for over 200 years.
In one conversation, he referred to the Skorpion automatic machine guns as a ‘tastey bit of kit’ that are ‘always good for a rainy day’ stating it comes with ammunition. Police uncovered several similar conversations of this nature, with Menga attempting to source firearms for other individuals.
On January 15 2024, officials executed a warrant at Menga’s home address on Mount Street in Swinton and he was arrested.
Menga was identified following extensive work falling under “Operation Foam”.
Detective Constable Shiels from our Serious Organised Crime Group said: ‘Menga, like many criminals before him, thought he was hiding behind a secure communications system. Instead, he created his own evidence trail that has led them straight to jail.
‘The level that Menga operated at showed he clearly had an established list of criminal contacts, one which will have been built over several years under the radar, facilitated by the use of Encrochat.
‘I hope this result shows that we remain committed to pursuing people who think they are above the law and believe they can evade justice.
‘We will continue to target criminals like Menga by thoroughly examining any evidence and carrying out any necessary warrants across Greater Manchester.’
On January 15 2024, officials executed a warrant at Menga’s home address on Mount Street in Swinton and he was arrested (file image)
Police say “over 300 arrests” have been made under “Operation Foam”, dismantling several OCGs.
A spokesman added: ‘We’ve placed some of Greater Manchester’s most prolific criminals behind bars for over 1000 years and prevented industrial volumes of drugs, firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition from making their way to our streets.
‘This operation is very much ongoing, and with several more warrants and investigations on the horizon, we continue to protect the public by arresting the kingpins and middle-tier criminals who thought they were untouchable.
‘The overwhelming evidence from their encrypted devices has meant we’ve had sufficient evidence to prosecute them and demonstrate there is nowhere for criminals to hide in Greater Manchester.’
