Drug dealers whose entire organized crime ring was crushed by a photo of a French bulldog have been ordered to fork over more than $1.4 million. This was reported by the UK's National Crime Agency.
Stefan Baldauf, 64, and Philip Lawson, 63, were drug dealers arrested in 2020 as part of Operation Venice along with other members of their gang for smuggling drugs from the UK to Australia. Traders sent 448 kg amphetamine worth about $46 million in the backhoe's hand below.
The dealers even rigged the auction to make sure the amphetamine got into the right hands. The drugs, which investigators said were MDMA, were initially stored in heavy equipment at an industrial facility in Grays, Essex, before being shipped to Australia. It took almost three months to arrive in Brisbane, the National Crime Agency said.
However, the ruse fell apart when fellow trader Danny Brown sent Balduff a photo of his French bulldog, Bob.
National Crime Agency
Investigators were able to use a photo tag with his partner's phone number and other techniques to find and break up an organized crime group.
“These criminals had no regard for the suffering and exploitation that the supply of illegal drugs brings to communities in the UK and Australia,” said Chris Hill, who led the NCA's investigation.
The National Crime Agency said Balduff, Brown, Lawson and four other men were jailed for 163 years in the UK. There will be a forfeiture hearing for other members later this year.