UK Drug Mule Nabbed After Taking Photograph Of Himself Kissing Banknotes; Jailed For 3 Years

Peter Cavanagh, a drug mule who was part of a gang that raked in almost $50,000 every month peddling heroin and cocaine, was put behind bars for three years after police officials found photographs of himself kissing banknotes on his mobile phone.

Cavanagh, 26, and Michael Adegoke, the gang leader, were returning from South Country -- a region in southwestern England -- to London when Cavanagh took a photograph of himself waving a wad of cash, UK’s Mirror reported.

The arrest of Cavanagh and Adegoke follows the arrest of two other drug dealers -- Tracey Carter and Isabel Cristiano -- in Weston-super-Mare, about 140 miles west of London, with cocaine hidden in their underwear and private parts, and police officials linked them to the men.

On Monday, Cavanagh was sentenced to three years in prison after he pleaded guilty to supplying drugs, the Mirror report said. Adegoke, 21, was jailed for five years, while Carter and Cristiano -- both from Weston-super-Mare -- were given two-year suspended sentences, at an earlier hearing in July.

Charles Thomas, prosecuting at an earlier court hearing, was quoted by the Mirror as saying that Cavanagh was an assistant to Adegoke who delivered drugs and collected cash from dealers.

“Adegoke was the leading figure of the conspiracy, giving orders and instructions to others involved and receiving much of the cash that was generated,” Thomas said, according to Mirror. “Cavanagh’s role was to act as a go-between from London to Weston and was the general factotum of Adegoke. He brought drugs to Weston and collected cash to take back to London and passed instructions to others.”

But, Nicolas Gerasimidis, Cavanagh’s lawyer, defended his client saying he got into the trade to pay off the money his brother owed Adegoke.

“He is a young man whose mind has changed away from criminality. Through sober reflection and understanding he has showed a determination to look the other way,” Mirror reported Gerasimidis as saying.