THE latest person to be arrested as part of the National Crime Agency (NCA) and PSNI investigation into encrypted phone data has been remanded in custody following detection in County Fermanagh earlier last week.

Multiple people have been charged across Northern Ireland after the secretive EncroChat secure communications network was “successfully penetrated” as part of Operation Venetic, in which searches recovered large amounts of cash, phones and drugs.

Used for trading drugs and guns, the system was decoded and intercepted by the NCA and other law enforcement agencies across Europe in June last year.

Roger Martin O’Grady (37), from Brackley, Bawnboy, Co. Cavan, is charged with conspiring to import, possess and being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis.

He is further accused of conspiring to transfer criminal property, namely cash, and entering into an arrangement facilitating the acquisition of criminal property.

Offending is alleged to have occurred on dates between March 25 and June 15, 2020.

O’Grady also faces a charge of having no insurance for a Yamaha motorcycle when stopped by police on July 7 in Letterbreen.

A detective constable told Dungannon Magistrates Court she believed she could connect O’Grady to the charges; however, no details surrounding his arrest were disclosed during the short hearing.

In response to an enquiry by the defence, she explained the overall investigation is vast, and while there are others to be spoken to, she did not think it would delay O’Grady’s case.

The only factor which may potentially stall proceedings would be if analysis is required to be carried out on phones.

While the detective pointed to “difficulties in locating O’Grady”, the defence pointed out he was known to be residing in Co. Cavan for some time.

There was no application for bail, although a defence lawyer told the court he “anticipates this will be made in the very near future”.

He accepted the allegations are: “Very grave indeed.”

Deputy District Judge Sean O’Hare remanded O’Grady in custody to appear on August 2 at Enniskillen Magistrates Court by video-link.