Latest news with #OperationWarrior
NDTV
08-08-2025
- NDTV
Watch: Talking Parrot Leads To Major Drug Bust In England
A talking parrot helped police bust a major gang involved in selling drugs after officers discovered videos of the bird repeating dealer phrases like "two for 25." The bird led to the arrest and conviction of 15 gang members, including the leader who ran the drug line from prison. The clue came up during raids on homes in Blackpool, England, where police seized large amounts of heroin, cocaine, cash, and phones linked to the gang. The operation was led by Adam Garnett, 35, who ran the drugs network from prison between 2023 and 2024. A search of his cell uncovered phones containing videos showing kilo blocks of drugs and footage of his girlfriend's pet parrot Mango, talking and playing with drug money. After the cell search, police identified Garnett's key associates - his girlfriend Shannon Hilton, 29, Dalbir Sandhu, 41, and Jason Gerrand, 50, of Shore Road, Thornton-Cleveleys. On Hilton's phone, officers found videos of her teaching the parrot to say "two for 25" in front of a child while laughing. Sandhu's phone contained detailed records of drug dealings, including price lists and transaction notes. He also researched and shared news stories about county lines, a method of drug trafficking using vulnerable people as runners. Despite being imprisoned, Garnett maintained communication with almost all gang members and coordinated efforts to hide evidence. Videos on Gareth Burgess's phone showed him walking through Blackpool carrying large amounts of cash and rapping about his criminal activity. Fifteen gang members pleaded guilty to drug offences at Preston Crown Court for crimes committed between February 2023 and July 2024. They are jailed for a total of more than 103 years. The case was part of Operation Warrior, Lancashire Police's response to tackling serious organised crime, supported by Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw. Grunshaw said, "Successful outcomes like this demonstrate officers' tireless work to protect the public and show that Lancashire is taking a relentless approach to tackling organised crime."
Sydney Morning Herald
07-08-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Two for 25': Talking parrot turns stool pigeon, brings down drug gang
Garnett, who directed the group using smuggled mobile phones while in prison, was also arrested. The devices were discovered during a search of his cell, leading to a wider investigation across the network. Garnett, who was already serving 15 years, was handed a further 19 years and six months to be served consecutively. Detectives working on the case traced messages and video calls between Garnett and Hilton, who acted as a link to street-level dealers. Footage found also showed kilogram blocks of cocaine, accompanied by music glorifying the use of narcotics. Dalbir Sandhu, 41, was also convicted after keeping a detailed digital record of transactions, which included price lists and links to news articles about gangs. He was sentenced to 10 years. The group was brought down as part of Operation Warrior, Lancashire Constabulary's response to serious organised crime. Officers raided numerous properties, recovering cash, phones and large quantities of drugs. Gareth Burgess, 45, received a more than seven-year sentence after a video was found of him rapping about drug dealing while walking through Blackpool with a wad of cash. Two other members of the gang, Chloe Scott, 24, and Ryan Black, 27, did not appear at Preston Crown Court and have been sentenced in their absence. Warrants have been issued for their arrest. Detective Sergeant Anthony Alves said: 'These people ran a sophisticated operation to supply class-A drugs across Blackpool. Garnett continued to run his operation whilst in prison, communicating with the members of his organised crime gang through illegal methods.' Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw praised the 'relentless approach' of the officers who dismantled the gang. 'Successful outcomes like this demonstrate officers' tireless work to protect the public,' he said.
The Age
07-08-2025
- The Age
‘Two for 25': Talking parrot turns stool pigeon, brings down drug gang
Garnett, who directed the group using smuggled mobile phones while in prison, was also arrested. The devices were discovered during a search of his cell, leading to a wider investigation across the network. Garnett, who was already serving 15 years, was handed a further 19 years and six months to be served consecutively. Detectives working on the case traced messages and video calls between Garnett and Hilton, who acted as a link to street-level dealers. Footage found also showed kilogram blocks of cocaine, accompanied by music glorifying the use of narcotics. Dalbir Sandhu, 41, was also convicted after keeping a detailed digital record of transactions, which included price lists and links to news articles about gangs. He was sentenced to 10 years. The group was brought down as part of Operation Warrior, Lancashire Constabulary's response to serious organised crime. Officers raided numerous properties, recovering cash, phones and large quantities of drugs. Gareth Burgess, 45, received a more than seven-year sentence after a video was found of him rapping about drug dealing while walking through Blackpool with a wad of cash. Two other members of the gang, Chloe Scott, 24, and Ryan Black, 27, did not appear at Preston Crown Court and have been sentenced in their absence. Warrants have been issued for their arrest. Detective Sergeant Anthony Alves said: 'These people ran a sophisticated operation to supply class-A drugs across Blackpool. Garnett continued to run his operation whilst in prison, communicating with the members of his organised crime gang through illegal methods.' Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw praised the 'relentless approach' of the officers who dismantled the gang. 'Successful outcomes like this demonstrate officers' tireless work to protect the public,' he said.
