Latest news with #ShannonHilton
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Rapper' parrot playing with cash helps cops bring down drug gang: ‘Are you sure the bird's not the ringleader?'
A talking parrot named Mango helped bring down a huge drug gang after it was found squawking drug-dealing slang in a video. UK cops found recordings of the parrot repeating cocaine prices among the evidence, which led to the gang members being jailed for over 103 years. The parrot named Mango, whose squawking helped cops convict a massive drug gang in the UK. (Facebook/Lancashire Police) 'What's the most talented thing your pet can do? Sit? Give paw? How about speak?' Lancashire Police wrote on Facebook. Adding about the drug dealer's parrot, Mango, the police explained how it helped the cops to bust the gang. How did the parrot help the cops? Mango was seen rapping 'two for 25' in videos, which the police found after raiding the house of the bird's owner, Shannon Hilton. The cops say that the phrase is a 'part of common language used by the organised crime gang,' that the owner's boyfriend, Adam Garnett, ran. 'Not a phrase you want your parrot squawking when the police come knocking!' During the bust, the police also discovered several videos, one of which shows Hilton teaching Mango to say the phrase in front of a child. The successful bust resulted in fourteen people being jailed for 'a total of more than 103 years.' What led to the drug bust? 'As Mango the parrot played with illegally gained money, the gang members rapped about their drug dealing, boasting of their criminal exploits. The leader of the gang, Adam Garnett was already serving a 15-year prison sentence when a number of phones and wifi routers were found in his cell. Following enquiries after this find, Garnett's second-in-command associates were identified as Dalbir Sandhu, Shannon Hilton and Jason Gerrand,' the department wrote. Upon searching their houses, the cops found 'Cash, heroin, crack cocaine, ketamine and cannabis, plus mobile phones.' Here's a video of Mango playing with cash: Social media is in stitches: An individual joked, 'How do we know the parrot wasn't in charge? He's clearly holding the money.' Echoing the same sentiment, another joined, 'See that's what they want you to think, the parrot is in charge of the whole operation.' A third posted, 'Will the parrot go into witness protection if he gives evidence?' A fourth wrote, 'Parrots are the perfect crime companions, especially African greys, with a potential lifespan of up to 100 years with proper care, a ten stretch is nothing to them.' Authorities on the bust: '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,' said DS Anthony Alves of West Targeted Crime Team in a police statement. '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. I remain fully committed to supporting the Chief Constable, ensuring our officers and staff have the resources they need to dismantle criminal gangs, drive offenders out of our communities, and deliver justice,' said Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
Parrot helps law enforcement uncover drug trafficking ring, leading to major bust
A parrot trained to mimic drug-related phrases played an unlikely role in helping British police dismantle a narcotics network operating inside a prison, authorities revealed this week. The Lancashire Constabulary announced charges against 15 people linked to the gang, which allegedly trafficked drugs across Blackpool, England, between February 2023 and July 2024. The group was led by 35-year-old Adam Garnett, who was already serving a prison sentence when the operation was uncovered. The investigation began after prison officials searched Garnett's cell and found multiple mobile phones and Wi-Fi routers. That discovery led police to several of his suspected associates, including Dalbir Sandhu, Shannon Hilton and Jason Gerrand. Searches of their homes turned up heroin, crack cocaine, ketamine, cannabis, large sums of cash and mobile phones allegedly tied to the drug trade. One of the more bizarre findings came from Hilton's phone, which police say contained videos showing her parrot, named "Mango," repeating "two for 25," a suspected drug deal reference. Another clip reportedly showed the bird playing with cash allegedly linked to illicit profits. "What's the most talented thing your pet can do? Sit? Give paw? How about speak?" Lancashire Police wrote in a post on the department's Facebook page. "One drug dealer's parrot learned to say 'two for 25' - a phrase picked up as part of common language used by the organised crime gang run by her boyfriend. Not a phrase you want your parrot squawking when the police come knocking!" Investigators also uncovered video calls between Hilton and Garnett, along with footage appearing to show kilogram-sized packages of cocaine, sometimes accompanied by music lyrics referencing the drug. Despite being behind bars, authorities say Garnett remained at the center of the operation, directing efforts to hide evidence and maintaining contact with nearly every member of the criminal network. Det. Sgt. Anthony Alves of Lancashire Police's West Targeted Crime Team praised the outcome, calling it a "coordinated and complex drug operation that extended far beyond prison walls." "Garnett continued to run his enterprise while incarcerated, using illegal devices to maintain control. I want to thank my team, our partners at the Crown Prosecution Service, and our prosecution team for their dedication to bringing these criminals to justice." He added that warrants remain active for Chloe Stott and Ryan Black and urged the public to come forward with any information about their whereabouts. Authorities say additional evidence from suspects' phones included videos flaunting large amounts of cash, drug-related rap lyrics and documented drug transactions. Garnett was sentenced to an additional 19 years and six months in prison to be served consecutively with his existing 15-year term. Hilton, 29, received 12 years while Sandhu, 41, was sentenced to 10. The bust was part of Operation Warrior, Lancashire Police's initiative to combat organized crime, drug trafficking, exploitation and violence in the region. The initiative is supported by Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw, who applauded the arrests and convictions. "This sends a clear message: we will not tolerate organized crime in our communities. I remain committed to giving law enforcement the resources they need to take down these gangs and protect the public." Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
Daily Telegraph
4 days ago
- Daily Telegraph
Moment pet parrot helps cops bring down huge drug gang
Don't miss out on the headlines from Animals. Followed categories will be added to My News. This is the moment a squawking parrot named Mango helped bring down a massive drug operation in the UK. The pet was captured on video saying 'two for 25' – a reference to a street deal price for crack cocaine, The Sun reports. Mango was also filmed playing with cash the gang had made from their operation. The videos were discovered on a phone belonging to Shannon Hilton, whose boyfriend Adam Garnett was in jail. Garnett had been running the network from his prison cell using smuggled phones and Wi-Fi routers. Parrot Mango exposed his owner's criminal activity. Picture: Lancashire Police Hilton was also filmed making video calls to her lag lover while blocks of cocaine could be seen in the background. The couple were among 15 members of the gang jailed for a total of 103 years after they admitted drug offences. Preston Crown Court — in england's north west — heard Garnett kept in touch with his associates despite already being behind bars. Mango was filmed counting dirty money. Picture: Lancashire Police The gang would then carry out orders across Blackpool between February 2023 and July 2024, trafficking Class A and B drugs – including heroin, crack cocaine, cannabis, and ketamine. When officers launched a probe, they discovered the incriminating footage on Hilton's phone. This included her teaching Mango to say the drug lingo while children were present and a clip of the bird counting its owner's ill-gotten gains. Clips from other gang members showed raps about drug money, stashes of heroin and ketamine and large sums of cash being flaunted. Officers raided their homes and discovered large quantities of drugs, cash, and phones all linking the gang to one another. Garnett was jailed for 19 years and six months after admitting two counts of conspiring to supply class A drugs. Girlfriend Hilton was jailed for 12 years for two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession with intent to supply Class B drugs. Adam Garnett was jailed for 19 years and six months. Picture: Lancashire Police Shannon Hilton was jailed for 12 years. Picture: Lancashire Police Blackpool Police said: 'What's the most talented thing your pet can do? Sit? Give paw? How about speak? 'One drug dealer's parrot learned to say 'two for 25' – a phrase picked up as part of common language used by the organised crime gang run by her boyfriend. Not a phrase you want your parrot squawking when the police come knocking! 'Last week, they, and thirteen others were jailed for more than 103 years. As Mango the parrot played with illegally gained money, the gang members rapped about their drug dealing, boasting of their criminal exploits.' This article originally appeared in The Sun and has been reproduced with permission. Originally published as Moment talking pet parrot helps cops bring down huge drug gang
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Telegraph
Talking parrot turns stool pigeon to bring down drug gang
A parrot taught to squawk the drug-dealing phrase 'two for 25' has helped to bring down a gang that ran a £1m narcotics ring from a prison cell. Owned by Shannon Hilton, the bird appeared in a video recovered from her mobile phone during a police raid, in which it repeated a phrase used by dealers to advertise two portions of cocaine for £25. Evidence of video calls between Hilton, 29, and her boyfriend, Adam Garnett, 35, showed the parrot named Mango playing with cash earned from their drug operation in front of a child. The weight of evidence, of which videos of the parrot were a part, enabled the police to take down the gang. A video of Mango picking up money was shared on social media by Blackpool Police with the caption: 'What's the most talented thing your pet can do? Sit? Give paw? How about speak? 'One drug dealer's parrot learned to say 'two for 25' – a phrase picked up as part of common language used by the organised crime gang run by her boyfriend. Not a phrase you want your parrot squawking when the police come knocking!' Hilton was jailed for 12 years for her role in a criminal enterprise that moved heroin, crack cocaine, cannabis and ketamine. In total, 15 members of the gang have been jailed for more than 103 years following an investigation by Lancashire Police. 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, his girlfriend, who acted as a link to street-level dealers. Footage found also showed kilo 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 county lines 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 seven-year-and-seven-month 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. 'Sophisticated operation' Det Sgt 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.' He urged members of the public to help police locate the missing gang members. Clive Grunshaw, the Lancashire Police and Crime commissioner, praised the 'relentless approach' of the officers who dismantled the gang. He said: 'Successful outcomes like this demonstrate officers' tireless work to protect the public.'
News.com.au
4 days ago
- News.com.au
Moment talking pet parrot helps cops bring down huge drug gang
This is the moment a squawking parrot named Mango helped bring down a massive drug operation in the UK. The pet was captured on video saying 'two for 25' – a reference to a street deal price for crack cocaine, The Sun reports. Mango was also filmed playing with cash the gang had made from their operation. The videos were discovered on a phone belonging to Shannon Hilton, whose boyfriend Adam Garnett was in jail. Garnett had been running the network from his prison cell using smuggled phones and Wi-Fi routers. Hilton was also filmed making video calls to her lag lover while blocks of cocaine could be seen in the background. The couple were among 15 members of the gang jailed for a total of 103 years after they admitted drug offences. Preston Crown Court — in england's north west — heard Garnett kept in touch with his associates despite already being behind bars. The gang would then carry out orders across Blackpool between February 2023 and July 2024, trafficking Class A and B drugs – including heroin, crack cocaine, cannabis, and ketamine. When officers launched a probe, they discovered the incriminating footage on Hilton's phone. This included her teaching Mango to say the drug lingo while children were present and a clip of the bird counting its owner's ill-gotten gains. Clips from other gang members showed raps about drug money, stashes of heroin and ketamine and large sums of cash being flaunted. Officers raided their homes and discovered large quantities of drugs, cash, and phones all linking the gang to one another. Garnett was jailed for 19 years and six months after admitting two counts of conspiring to supply class A drugs. Girlfriend Hilton was jailed for 12 years for two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession with intent to supply Class B drugs. Blackpool Police said: 'What's the most talented thing your pet can do? Sit? Give paw? How about speak? 'One drug dealer's parrot learned to say 'two for 25' – a phrase picked up as part of common language used by the organised crime gang run by her boyfriend. Not a phrase you want your parrot squawking when the police come knocking! 'Last week, they, and thirteen others were jailed for more than 103 years. As Mango the parrot played with illegally gained money, the gang members rapped about their drug dealing, boasting of their criminal exploits.'
