A British gang received life sentences after authorities uncovered a mail-order assassination kit operation, linking their products to global murder plots and prompting urgent international warnings.
At a Glance
- A Manchester gang manufactured assassination kits disguised as postal parcels.
- The kits included syringes, insulin, gloves, and kill instructions.
- Police infiltrated the group using undercover operations and surveillance.
- Six men were convicted, with multiple life sentences issued.
- Intelligence suggests other kits may remain active worldwide.
Murder, Delivered
Each assassination kit sold by the gang was a chillingly complete murder toolkit: syringes filled with sedatives, latex gloves, forensic overalls, and printed manuals explaining how to kill without leaving evidence. According to Greater Manchester Police, the items were packaged in generic boxes designed to pass through customs unnoticed.
Laurence McKenna, a machinist by trade, fabricated kit components in his workshop. The gang advertised via encrypted chat apps and processed payments in cryptocurrency. One kit linked to an attempted overseas murder triggered urgent coordination with foreign agencies. The National Crime Agency labeled the operation “industrialized murder-for-hire.”
Police Infiltration and Trial
The gang’s downfall began in 2023 when police intercepted suspicious parcels and digital chatter. Undercover officers posed as buyers, documenting the gang’s sales pitches and packaging methods. Raids on Manchester properties yielded dozens of kits, custom tools, and detailed records of transactions.
At Manchester Crown Court, six men stood trial for conspiracy to murder and possession of items for terrorist purposes. McKenna and two key partners received life sentences. Prosecutors described the enterprise as a “bespoke murder logistics firm,” citing forensic evidence and intercepted messages advising buyers on avoiding DNA traces.
International Fallout
Authorities fear this model could proliferate. The kits were user-friendly, affordable, and globally shipped. According to The Guardian, the gang mimicked e-commerce tactics—offering multilingual manuals, repeat-buyer discounts, and real-time customer support.
Security analysts believe the operation may have inspired copycats. Several law enforcement agencies are now monitoring darknet forums for similar kits. The National Crime Agency is working with postal services and customs authorities to trace remaining shipments and warn international partners.
While convictions delivered a major blow to kit-based assassination networks, police caution that the global marketplace for murder remains dangerously open.
