Drug traffickers arrested after sending a photo of a pet French bulldog had to pay $1.4 million

Drug traffickers whose entire organized crime ring was brought down by a photo of a French bulldog have been ordered to pay more than $1.4 million, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency announced.

Stefan Baldauf (64) and Philip Lawson (63) were drug traffickers who were caught in 2020 as part of Operation Venetic along with other members of their drug smuggling ring from the UK to Australia. Traders sent 448 kg amphetamine worth about $46 million in the excavator arm below.

The dealers even set up an auction to ensure the amphetamine went into the right hands. The drug, which investigators said was MDMA, was first stored in heavy equipment at an industrial unit in Grays, Essex, before being shipped to Australia. It took him almost three months to arrive in Brisbane, the National Crime Agency said.

The ruse, however, backfired when fellow shopkeeper Danny Brown sent Baldauf a photo of his French bulldog Bob.

Investigators were able to use the photo — which had his partner’s phone number on it — and other methods to track down and break up the organized crime group.

“These criminals did not care about the misery 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.

Baldauf, Brown, Lawson and four other men in Great Britain were sentenced to a combined 163 years, the National Crime Agency announced. The other members will face a forfeiture hearing later this year.