Dial MMS for Marijuana

US police bust dope-dealing network

By John Leyden • Get more from this author

Posted in Mobile, 30th December 2005 12:32 GMT

A teenage drug-dealing network that promoted its wares using MMS messages has been busted after a mother found incriminating messages on her child's mobile. Massachusetts police arrested six local teenagers last week following a tip-off for a parent of one of the gang's intended marijuana customers, according to local reports.

Police reckon the hi-tech dope dealers called prospective customers to arrange sales prior to sending picture messages of the merchandise. "They had a lot of proprietary enthusiasm," Sgt. Daniel Devine told The New Britain Herald. "They would email a picture of the drugs and a message to kids in town on their cell phone, and then the kids in Farmington would send the photo and message to all their friends to notify them of the upcoming sale."

The scheme was exposed after a parent spotted a picture advertising a sale on her child's phone. She notified the police who busted the teens during a morning sale in a raid that netted "less than a pound of marijuana", several hundred dollars, drug paraphernalia and mobile phones seized from a car.

Three 15 year-olds were charged with possession of marijuana. Another 15 year-old was also charged with possession with intent to sell. None can named for legal reasons.

Errin Parsons, 18, of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, was charged with possession of marijuana while Zachary Brady, 16, of Shrewsbury, Mass., was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell and conspiracy. Both of the older teenagers have been released on police bail and are due to appear in Hartford Superior Court in early January. ®

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