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It was unclear why he posted the picture of the cheese (Picture: Merseyside Police)A block of Stilton cheese became a drug dealer\u2019s downfall after he posted a photo of it online and was identified by police.
\nCarl Stewart, 39, couldn\u2019t resist the M&S mature blue dairy product, which was made in Leicestershire.
\nHe shared an image of it on an encrypted mobile network used to trade illicit substances.
\nWhen police in Europe cracked the network as part of Operation Venetic, officers here were able to analyse his fingerprints from the photo and identify him.
\nIt was unclear exactly why he posted the picture of the cheese.
\nStewart, from Liverpool, has now been jailed for 13 years and six months after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply heroin, conspiracy to supply MDMA, conspiracy to supply ketamine and transferring criminal property.<\/p>\n
Carl Stewart, 39, \u2018was caught out by his love of Stilton cheese\u2019 (Picture: Merseyside Police)He used the handle \u2018Toffeeforce\u2019 on encrochat to supply large amounts of class A and B drugs.\u00a0
\nAround 60,000 users of the network have been identified worldwide, with around 10,000 of them in the UK.
\nThey were involved in coordinating and planning the supply and distribution of drugs and weapons, money laundering and other criminal activity.
\nAfter the sentencing on Friday at Liverpool Crown Court, Detective Inspector Lee Wilkinson said Stewart \u2018was caught out by his love of Stilton cheese\u2019.
\nHe said: \u2018As part of Operation Venetic, Merseyside Police has so far arrested more than 60 people, many of whom have been charged with serious drug trafficking or firearms offences. This year will see a number of these people continuing to appear before the courts, and we welcome each and every one.\u00a0
\n\u2018Stewart was handed a substantial sentence of 13 years and six months, and this should serve as a stark warning to anyone involved in this criminality that there are serious consequences.
\n\u2018Merseyside Police, along with law enforcement agencies across the world, will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of those people who think they are above the law, and we will continue to target anyone involved in serious organised crime to keep this positive momentum going.\u2019
\nGet in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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