/ 19 November 2004

Bad message for drug dealer

Text messaging may have some advantages, but a New Zealand drug dealer has found it can be very bad for business when you don’t know where the recipient is.

When Anthony Crown sent an SMS with a methamphetamine offer, he didn’t know his client was sitting in a Wellington police station — having just been arrested for burglary.

Police replied to the message and arranged a drop-off point, where Crown was arrested.

A check of his phone log showed three other drug offers made by text messaging, and even while in a police cell his phone was receiving messages from potential buyers.

Crown was on Friday jailed for two years and three months on various drugs charges. — Sapa-AFP