Drug dealer who was caught hiding in wardrobe after accidental Wi-Fi login jailed

This is the moment a drug dealer was caught by the police hiding in a wardrobe after connecting to public Wi-Fi has been jailed for 12 years.

The Metropolitan Police had been investigating the “Bobby” drugs line after examining mobile phones seized from children suspected of being involved in drug supply.

Joel Louis, 34, had taken extensive steps to conceal his location, using a virtual private network (VPN) for all his devices.

However, he inadvertently logged into a public Wi-Fi connection at an address in Wembley on July 7, with officers immediately executing a warrant.

Joel Louis

Met Police

Louis tried to hide in a wardrobe - but was immediately discovered by officers.

During the arrest, he asked officers: "How did you find me?”.

Analysis of his phone found Louis was receiving more than 100 calls a day from his contact list of nearly 250 drug users, some of whom he bragged to that he owned a firearm.

A search of the address also led to the recovery of Class A drugs, including cocaine and heroin with a street value of £8,800, approximately £8,000 in cash and six mobile phones, one of which was identified as the phone used to run the “Bobby” line.

Officers also found a loaded firearm concealed inside a box, 13 rounds of 9mm ammunition, including three rounds loaded into the firearm's magazine, a machete, and a flip knife.

Police found a number of weapons at the address in Wembley

Met Police

Louis was charged on July 7 with two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, possession of an offensive weapon in a private place, possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition.

On Friday at Harrow Crown Court, he was sentenced to 12 years’ and nine months’ imprisonment for offences connected to the supply of cocaine and heroin in north Kilburn.

Detective Constable Lauren Gresty, who led the investigation, said: "Louis recruited numerous young people to move drugs around north Kilburn, exposing them to violence, intimidation and criminality for his own financial gain.

"County lines devastate lives. It is far more than drug dealing. It causes damage to local communities through its connections to acquisitive crimes and anti-social behavior.

“Louis believed he could hide from police to further his offending, but this result shows our tenacity in going after those who cause the most harm in London.”