A British drug dealer who tried to hide from police inside a wardrobe was caught after one of his devices mistakenly connected to a public Wi-Fi network.
Joel Lewis, 34, from Wembley in northwest London, ran a drug distribution line operating under the name "Bobby." Police began investigating the drug network after examining phones seized from children suspected of involvement in drug trafficking.
Lewis attempted to conceal his location and even used a VPN to mask his digital footprint. But a single mistake was enough: one of his devices connected to a public Wi-Fi network at the address where he was staying, allowing investigators to pinpoint his whereabouts.
On July 7, officers arrived at the house where Lewis was hiding, armed with a search warrant. He attempted to evade arrest by concealing himself inside a wardrobe, but police quickly discovered him. During the arrest, he asked them in astonishment: "How did you find me?"
Examination of his phone revealed that Lewis received more than 100 calls per day from a database containing nearly 250 customers of the drug network. A search of the premises uncovered cocaine and heroin with an estimated value of £8,800, approximately £8,000 in cash, and six mobile phones, one of which was linked to the "Bobby" line.
Lewis was convicted of offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and heroin, and was sentenced to 12 years and nine months in prison at Harrow Crown Court.
