By In a shocking fall from the octagon to the courtroom, Pietro Menga, a former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter once signed to the UFC and known by his nickname “Italian Stallion,” has been sentenced to 15 years and five months in prison. The 37-year-old, who previously made a name for himself in the combat sports world, was exposed as a key player in an organized crime network involved in drug trafficking and firearms distribution, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Menga’s double life came to light as part of a broader investigation into the encrypted messaging platform EncroChat, which had been infiltrated by law enforcement agencies across Europe. Under the username “wirelessshark,” Menga openly discussed his criminal dealings, revealing not only his involvement in sourcing large quantities of cocaine but also his role in procuring prohibited weapons. In one chilling exchange, he referred to a Skorpion machine gun—a compact, Czechoslovak-designed weapon known for its use by military and criminal elements alike—as a “tasty bit of kit” that was “always good for a rainy day.”
Authorities estimate that Menga facilitated drug transactions valued between £490,000 and £620,000, a scale that highlights the significant role he played as a middleman in the criminal underworld. His messages on EncroChat also inadvertently provided personal clues that helped GMP identify him, including references to his girlfriend, his home gym, and knee injuries sustained during his fighting career. These details, combined with the intercepted communications, painted a clear picture of Menga’s illicit activities.
The investigation into Menga was part of Operation Foam, a GMP initiative stemming from the national takedown of EncroChat in 2020, which began when French investigators cracked the platform’s encryption and shared the data with UK authorities. Since then, the operation has led to over 300 arrests across the UK, targeting both high-level crime bosses and mid-tier operators like Menga. Detective Constable Shiels of GMP’s Serious Organised Crime Group noted the sophistication of Menga’s network, stating, “His established list of criminal contacts shows how he operated under the radar for years, using EncroChat to facilitate his dealings.”
Menga’s arrest on January 15, 2024, marked a turning point in his story. After pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited weapons, he now faces over a decade and a half behind bars. The case underscores the growing challenge law enforcement faces in tackling organized crime groups that leverage encrypted technologies to orchestrate drug deals, money laundering, and arms trafficking.
The Skorpion machine gun Menga discussed in his messages is a particularly troubling element of the case. Originally developed in the late 1950s for security forces and military personnel, the weapon has a dark history of being repurposed by criminal organizations. Its compact design and rapid rate of fire—up to 850 rounds per minute, thanks to an inertial rate reducer—make it a favored tool for illicit activities. In recent years, similar weapons have surfaced in criminal circles across Europe, with Swedish authorities reporting in 2017 that around 50 deactivated Skorpions from Slovakia had been reactivated and were circulating among criminals.
Menga’s sentencing also serves as a stark reminder of the broader impact of organized crime. As noted in a 2023 BBC report on Operation Eternal, a related Met Police initiative targeting EncroChat users, such networks are responsible for supplying drugs to street gangs, fueling violence and misery in communities. The operation has resulted in over 420 convictions and the seizure of three tonnes of drugs, illustrating the scale of the problem.
For Menga, whose fighting career had already stalled—Tapology notes he has been inactive in MMA for over two years, rendering him ineligible for regional rankings—his legacy is now tainted by his criminal actions. Once a promising athlete who faced off against opponents like Fernando Flores in Stockport, England, he now faces the consequences of a very different kind of fight. As GMP continues its crackdown on EncroChat-related crimes, with more arrests expected, Menga’s case sends a clear message to those involved in organized crime: no matter how encrypted your communications may be, justice may still come knocking.
