Drug Traffickers Caught by Dog Photo Ordered to Pay Over £1 Million

A French Bulldog's photo revealed critical evidence that helped dismantle a £45 million international drug smuggling operation.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) broke up a drug ring attempting to smuggle 448kg of amphetamine worth £45 million to Australia.
The operation unraveled after a trafficker sent a photo of his dog, Bob, which revealed a phone number on the dog's tag linking him to the scheme.
Stefan Baldauf and Philip Lawson, key members of the gang, were sentenced to 28 and 23 years respectively and ordered to repay over £1 million in total.
The drugs were hidden in an excavator, with a rigged auction ensuring the equipment reached Australian accomplices.
The NCA emphasized the importance of financial penalties to deter organized crime and highlighted ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.