Drug dealers were caught after posting a photo of a French Bulldog who was forced to pay $1.4 million.

An entire organized crime ring was ordered to pay more than $1.4 million to drug dealers busted by a photo of a French Bulldog. This was reported by the National Crime Agency of Great Britain.

Stefan Baldauf, 64, and Philip Lawson, 63, were drug traffickers arrested in 2020 as part of Operation Venetic, along with other members of their gang, for smuggling drugs from the UK to Australia. Human traffickers sent 448 kg amphetamine worth about $46 million on the backhoe arm underneath.

Traffickers even held auctions to make sure the amphetamine was in the right hands. The drugs, which investigators said were MDMA, were first stored in heavy equipment at an industrial unit in Grays, Essex, before being shipped to Australia. It took about three months to reach Brisbane, the National Crime Agency said.

But the ruse was foiled when fellow shopkeeper Danny Brown sent Baldauf a picture of his French Bulldog, Bob.

Investigators were able to use a photo with his partner’s phone number and other methods to track down and arrest the organized crime ringleader.

Chris Hill, who led the NCA investigation, said: “These criminals did not care about the misery and exploitation that illegal drugs bring to communities in the UK and Australia.”

In the UK, Baldauf, Brown, Lawson and four other men were sentenced to 163 years in prison, the National Crime Agency said. Other members are awaiting a forfeiture hearing later this year.