A drug dealer has been jailed, thanks in part to his habit of photographing himself holding large wads of cash.
Shaquiri Edwards, aged 29, was intercepted by armed police on 16 October 2024 after a report that a group of men had been seen in possession of knives in Bulwell.
No knives were found, but Edwards was seen attempting to dispose of a package containing 26 wraps of crack cocaine by throwing it over a garden fence.
The drugs were recovered and Edwards – despite his protestations of innocence – was arrested and taken into custody.
Edwards claimed he had just bought the wraps from an unnamed dealer for personal use, spending a third of his monthly Universal Credit payment in the process.
When asked about the numerous pictures and videos on his phone showing him posing with large sums of cash, Edwards claimed the money had been saved to pay for a family holiday.
Faced with the incriminating evidence against him, Edwards, of Bulwell, later pleaded guilty to possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday 20 January, he was jailed for three years.
Sergeant Matthew West, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“Edwards was clearly involved in dealing significant quantities of Class A drugs – and had hardly been subtle about his illegal activities.
“Images and messages found on his own phone linked him to the supply of Class A drugs and to amounts of cash that were well beyond his limited financial means.
“His attempts to explain away that unexplained wealth were simply not credible, leaving him with little choice but to plead guilty.
“I am pleased he has now been brought to justice.”
