Dealer reveals his fingerprints in phone image of Ecstasy pills

Elliot Morris took a picture of Ikea and Skype branded tablets in his hand and sent the image to friends.

The 28-year-old was arrested when South Wales Police (SWP) was able to forensically scan a small part of three fingers on the picture and identify them as his – after it provided a match on the national fingerprint database.

The investigation, which began locally but quickly snowballed, saw officers from Bridgend Priority Policing Team seek the assistance of the Joint Scientific Support Unit (JSIU) at SWP to forensically link Morris, who ran a drug operation in the West Midlands, back to a gang who was supplying large amounts of cannabis in South Wales.

Morris, of Redditch, Worcestershire was jailed for eight-and-a-half years at Cardiff Crown Court after he admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis and Ecstacy and possessing cocaine.

The court heard how he was also one of nine gang members – including his parents, Darren, 51, and 44-year-old Dominque – who received nearly 21 years in prison sentences in total for supplying cannabis.

His father was jailed for 27 months and his mother for a year for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
This case again reiterates the importance of communities reporting their suspicions to us.
The investigation began after officers learnt of drugs being sold from a home in the village of Kenfig Hill, near Bridgend. The home of Joe Thomas, 25, was raided on August 23 after police witnessed a drop-off at the property.

Thomas was then arrested alongside Aaron McKay, 22, Danial Jenkins, 26, Nathan Burgess, 26, and Michael Rouse, 31, after bags of drugs of ‘Gorilla Glue’ cannabis were discovered at the home.

Analysis of McKay’s phone uncovered WhatsApp messages dating back months, which linked him to the Morris family, who were his up-stream suppliers.

The Morris parents were arrested after a cannabis factory was discovered at their home, and it was later discovered that their son had headed up the operation.

He was arrested alongside girlfriend Rosaleen Abdel-Salam, 25, of Tutnall, Worcestershire and Chazino Suban, 27, of Birmingham.

Officers then discovered an image of a hand holding a number of ecstasy tablets, which was taken from a mobile phone.

Fingerprint experts from the JSIU at SWP were able to positively link the prints to Morris.

It was also found that he had hidden £20,000 in bitcoin accounts, the majority of which was gained from illegal drug sales.

In total, cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy worth around £36,000 and around £21,000 in cash, was recovered during the investigation.

Detective Inspector Dean Taylor, of South Wales Police, said: “This was a complex investigation which successfully drew on the skills of colleagues from multiple departments to ensure these drug dealers were brought to justice.

“This case again reiterates the importance of communities reporting their suspicions to us.

“The investigation began as the result of local intelligence about Joe Thomas and Aaron McKay, and what initially presented as a small-scale drug-dealing operation by two local men, soon unravelled in to a much larger, sophisticated set-up.

“It is testament to our officers, and all those involved, that we were able to secure convictions against this gang.”

Dave Thomas, forensic operations manager for the force, said: “Specialist staff within the JSIU fully utilised their expert image-enhancing skills which enabled them to provide something that the unit’s fingerprint identification experts could work with.

“Despite being provided with only a very small section of the fingerprint which was visible in the photograph, the team were able to successfully identify the individual.”

The following were sentenced for conspiracy to supply cannabis:

• Joe Rees Thomas, 25, of Kenfig Hill – who was also convicted of producing cannabis and possessing cocaine – was jailed for 27 months;

• Aaron McKay, 22, of Pyle Inn Way, Pyle, was jailed for 27 months;

• Danial Jenkins, 26, of Kenfig Hill, was jailed for eight months;

• Nathan Burgess, 26, of Pyle – also convicted of possessing a Class B drug – was jailed for nine months;

• Michael Rouse, 31, of Wildill, was jailed for nine months;

• Jonathan Scanlon, 27, of, North Cornelly – who also admitted possessing cocaine with the intent to supply – was jailed for 30 months;

• Elliott Morris, 28, of Redditch, Worcestershire – who was also convicted of possessing MDMA with intent to supply and possessing cocaine – was jailed for eight-and-a-half years;

• Darren Morris, 51, from Redditch, Worcestershire, was jailed for 27 months; and

• Dominique Morris, 44, from Redditch, Worcestershire, was jailed for 12 months.

The following were found not guilty of being part of the conspiracy, but were sentenced for the following offences:

• Chazino Suban, 28, of Birmingham, was fined £700 for possessing cannabis and cocaine; and
• Rosaleen Abdel-Salam, 25, of Tutnall, Worcestershire, was fined £350 for possessing ecstasy.