A group of drug lords responsible for a £45 million MDMA operation were caught after a photo of their dog 'Bob' was discovered.

Stefan Baldauf and Philip Lawson were two men in their sixties who were recently caught as part of a criminal group that had attempted to import a massive amount of MDMA into Australia. Their plan was to bring in almost half a tonne of the drug, which had an estimated street value of £44 million. However, their scheme fell apart when one of their co-conspirators, Danny Brown, mistakenly sent a photo of his French bulldog, Bob, with his partner's phone number on its tag.

The authorities were able to use this photo, along with other evidence, to prove that Brown was involved in the criminal plot. Another piece of incriminating evidence was a photo that Baldauf had sent on EncroChat, which showed his reflection in a brass door sign. This led to their arrest and subsequent imprisonment, with Baldauf receiving a 28-year sentence and Lawson receiving 23 years.

However, their troubles did not end there. On Monday at Kingston Crown Court, the two men were ordered to hand over a total of £1 million as part of a confiscation order. Baldauf was required to pay £1,007,637, while Lawson had to pay £182,476. If they fail to pay within three months, they will face additional jail time. The money will go towards further crime fighting efforts and the Treasury.

Meanwhile, Brown, who received a 26-year sentence, will have a confiscation hearing later in the year, along with another member of the group, William Sartin. In total, the group had attempted to smuggle in a massive amount of MDMA, hidden in an excavator in Sartin's industrial unit. He was also sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Chris Hill, who led the investigation for the national law enforcement agency, expressed how these criminals only cared about their own financial gain and not the harm and suffering their actions caused in both the UK and Australia. He also emphasized that these proceedings were a way to show other organized criminals that there are consequences for their actions, even after they are imprisoned. The NCA remains committed to protecting the public from the dangers of illegal drug supply, both domestically and internationally.

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