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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Tom Campbell & Bradley Jolly

Gang flogged cannabis sweets disguised as Smarties and Nerds through Snapchat

Three brazen criminals flogged cannabis sweets disguised as Nerds, Smarties and Millions through Snapchat and Instagram.

Reo Mangal, 24, Olivia Butler, 24, and Ceroan Mangal, 35, sent the "dangerous edibles" through the post to addresses across the UK.

A court heard money was paid into three bank accounts linked to the group once the "goodies" were received by customers.

But several boxes of sweets and drinks containing THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, were discovered after Butler was stopped driving a car without insurance in Camden, north London.

And on Thursday, the trio were sentenced in court after admitting drug offences.

Reo Mangal, 24, was the only member of the group to receive an immediate custodial sentence (SWNS)

Ceroan Mangal, from Archway, north London, was spared jail though after a judge suspended his eight-month sentence for two years.

He pleaded guilty to possession of class B drugs and being concerned in the supply of class B drugs.

Butler's nine-month sentence was also suspended for two years.

The young woman, from Peckham, south London, admitted possession with intent to supply class B drugs and being concerned in the supply class B drugs.

Reo Mangal, of Southwark, south London, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply class B drugs, supply of class B drugs and being concerned in the supply class B drugs.

Detective Inspector Darren Jones, of Metropolitan Police, said: "This group brazenly thought they could get away with selling dangerous substances in plain sight on social media.

"The hard work of our officers has put a stop to their criminality and closed a significant supply chain."

The defendants had a 'significant supply chain' (SWNS)

Wood Green Crown Court heard police raided the defendant's homes in October last year and discovered "overwhelming evidence".

Having stopped Butler's car, officers trawled through 114,629 text messages and 67,964 photos on her phone, which linked her to Reo and Ceroan Mangal.

The communication showed the gang had been selling the treats to customers across the UK via the social media apps Snapchat and Instagram.

DI Jones said: "The impact of these substances should not be underestimated - they can cause an adverse reaction.

"Edibles are typically stronger than other cannabis products and it's impossible for the customer to know what ingredients have been included.

"Removing drugs and other dangerous substances from our communities is key to reducing other associated crime that happen as a result of drug dealing, such as violence and anti-social behaviour."

A separate investigation into where the group bought the products from is ongoing.

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