Drugs Gang Busted After Trafficker Sends Selfie of His Dog ‘Bob’ on Encrypted Chat
Danny Brown, 55, thought he was safe hiding behind the alias ‘throwthedice’ on the encrypted platform EncroChat. But a slip-up involving a photo of his pet dog, Bob, helped crack a £45million MDMA smuggling ring. Brown sent the image to co-conspirator Stefan Baldauf, 62, while plotting to ship a massive 448 kilos of high-purity MDMA to Australia.
Selfies and Dog Photo Blow Cover for Drug Dealers
National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators tracked the gang through phone numbers linked to the image and other clever detective work. The accidental selfies sent by Brown and Baldauf on EncroChat gave the cops even more smoking-gun proof.
“Brown and Baldauf’s accidental selfies and the photo of Bob the dog were the cherry on the cake in proving who was operating those handles,” said Chris Hill, NCA operations manager.
£45m Worth of Drugs Hidden Inside Excavator Arm
The gang hid the drugs inside the arm of a massive industrial Doosan DX420 digger, worth €75,000. They shipped the 40-tonne machine from Leeds to Australia, pretending to sell it via a rigged online auction with pre-arranged bids. When real buyers showed interest, the gang freaked out, exchanging frantic messages.
- Brown: “F***ing hell, that’s not good is it.”
- Leon Reilly, 50, warned: “There are six people watching it.”
The excavator was moved secretly through Southampton docks before reaching Brisbane in March 2020. Australian Border Force x-rayed it, found the stash, and installed trackers and bugs to monitor the operation.
Kingston Crown Court Delivers Heavy Sentences
Brown, Baldauf, Reilly, and three others were convicted of drug trafficking last June. Brown was jailed for 26 years; Baldauf got 28; and Reilly 24 years. Others involved include Tony Borg (15 years), Philip Lawson (23 years), and Peter Murray (24 years).
The meticulously planned conspiracy ran from late 2019 to early 2020, aiming to smuggle MDMA with 77.5% purity where it fetches a higher street price than in the UK.
How Encrypted Chat Helped Bring Down a Multi-Million-Pound Crime Network
EncroChat, taken down in 2020 by an international law enforcement sting called Operation Venetic, was used by criminals worldwide to coordinate their operations. But the NCA’s breakthrough came by linking secret handles to real identities — helped by Brown’s poorly hidden dog photo and careless selfies.
Brown’s reflection was caught on his TV screen in one image. Baldauf’s face showed up reflected on a brass door sign. Even top-notch criminals can’t escape a slip-up.
A Warning from the NCA
Chris Hill of the NCA said: “These men thought they were safe on EncroChat but my officers did a superb and painstaking job combining traditional and modern detective skills.
“The gang went to great lengths—even rigging an auction—to transfer drugs worth tens of millions. The NCA, working with partners at home and abroad, is determined to protect communities from the scourge of Class A drugs.”
The Full Roster of Sentenced Crooks
- Danny Brown, Bromley – 26 years
- Stefan Baldauf, Ealing – 28 years
- Leon Reilly, Uxbridge – 24 years
- Philip Lawson, Staines-upon-Thames – 23 years
- Peter Murray – 24 years
- Tony Borg, Basildon – 15 years
Two men connected to the Australian side remain under investigation in Australia.
