Jacob Flavin was arrested at his deluxe city centre apartment
A drug dealer dubbed ‘Albus Dumbledore’ was caught on camera picking up cannabis in an Aldi carrier bag.
Jacob Flavin was described as a significant figure in five-strong gang of drug dealers who distributed ‘wholesale’ amounts of cannabis.
Using Signal, an encrypted communication app, the 29-year-old would operate under his Harry Potter-inspired handle to peddle substantial quantities of the class B drug.
During proceedings at Manchester Crown Court, it was revealed Flavin had advertised 500 grams of ‘super skunk’ for £1,000 on November 3, 2023, alongside a picture of the product being grasped in a latex-gloved hand.
When the recipient of the message replied, ‘Ok leave it with me’, Falvin responded: “Can do nothing but make money. Soon as these main ones land I will send a list”, reports the Manchester Evening News.
On other occasions, Flavin advertised various kinds of cannabis, including ‘Tropical’, ‘Gelato’, and ‘Banana’, ranging from £2,800 to £3,100 per kilo.
He was photographed by undercover police, who were monitoring the gang’s activities as part of a sting known as ‘Operation Global’, collecting an Aldi bag which was believed to be ‘full’ of cannabis.
When the arrest took place at Flavin’s deluxe apartment in MediaCityUK’s The Heart complex in Salford, authorities confiscated a Rolex valued between £6,000 and £8,000 along with small bags of cannabis.
Detectives discovered menus, price lists for drugs and a list of debtors with their owed amounts on his two mobile phones. Over a seven-week period in late 2023, it was estimated that the gang was involved in the supply of approximately 180kg of cannabis.
Further examination of Flavin’s phone revealed his involvement in the sale of cocaine, heroin and ketamine alongside other ‘unknown co-conspirators’.
Prosecutor Neil Fryman stated that the defendant could be linked to the sale of 3.5kg of cocaine, 2.5kg of heroin and 5kg of ketamine. The court was informed that Flavin had six previous convictions for 10 offences, including possession of cannabis with intent to supply, for which he served nine months in prison.
Judge Sarah Johnston, while sentencing him, described the damage inflicted on communities by drugs as ‘far-reaching’. She added: “So much of the suffering we see in these courts has its roots in this trade and those who seek to profit from it.”
The judge acknowledged that Flavin had penned a “commendably candid” letter detailing his “first-hand experience of the dreadful consequences of this evil trade”. She further noted: “It appears to be to your eternal shame that you sought to profit from other’s misery’.”
After pleading guilty to four counts of conspiracy to supply cannabis, cocaine, heroin and ketamine, he was sentenced to nine years in prison. He is the last member of the gang to be incarcerated.
