A cute photo of Bob the bulldog led to the downfall of a drug ring, showing how unexpected moments can change everything in crime investigations.
This gang was planning to smuggle over 70 stones of MDMA from the UK to Australia. They had a wild plan to hide the drugs in a digger’s mechanical arm, worth around £45 million. But then, Bob entered the picture.
Danny Brown, one of the gang members, sent a cute pic of Bob on EncroChat, thinking it was safe. Little did he know, his phone was hacked by the National Crime Agency. That innocent photo had his and his partner’s phone number, which led to the gang’s downfall.
In December 2022, Stefan Baldauf was sentenced to 28 years in prison and ordered to repay over a million pounds. If he can’t pay, he faces more jail time. The total prison time for Baldauf, Lawson, and five others? A staggering 163 years!
Chris Hill from the National Crime Agency said these criminals only cared about money, not the harm they caused. This case shows that crime doesn’t pay, and they’re working hard to keep the public safe from illegal drugs.
