6 days ago
Younger dealer caught after using drugs phone to book taxis
A young drug dealer was found to be involved in the supply of cocaine and cannabis after he sent "bulk messages" to clients advertising drugs. He was discovered as the owner of a drugs line after he used the number of book taxis and was seen on CCTV topping up the phone.
Tyler Beer, 20, of Cardiff, was outed as a drug dealer after police seized two mobile phones in an unrelated investigation. Both of those phones identified a phone number which had sent "bulk messages" advertising the sale of cocaine and cannabis.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard police were able to attribute the phone number to Beer after it was used to make taxi bookings in his name and to the defendant's address. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter.
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He was also identified on CCTV footage at shops buying top up credits for the phone.
On January 6, the defendant's girlfriend's phone was seized by police and that device contained messages between August 31 and October 24, 2024, and the drugs line number was saved under two love heart emojis.
The next day, officers attended Beer's address where he was arrested.
A number of items were seized including £235 in cash, two phones, cannabis wrapped in tin foil, weighing scales, bags containing zip lock bags, and a roll of cling film.
The defendant was interviewed but answered "no comment".
Beer, of Whitaker Road, Splott, later pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A and B drugs.
The court heard he has one previous conviction for two unrelated offences.
Prosecutor Emma Meadows said the defendant had played a "significant role" in the drugs enterprise.
In mitigation, Zoe Laugharne said her client was a user of drugs and began dealing in order to fund his own habit, as a coping mechanism to "deal with his background".
Sentencing, Judge Shomon Khan said: "You supplied class A drugs for financial gain... You were running a drugs line and supplied drugs over a period of time, sending out bulk messages.
"You clearly had a significant role. You have to recognise the harm drugs and drug supply cause to communities and those who use drugs."
Beer was sentenced to a total of two years and four months imprisonment.
