A parrot named Mango has inadvertently helped Lancashire Police dismantle a major drug ring in Blackpool, after the bird was taught to squawk the phrase “two for 25” – a reference to a cocaine deal. The yellow parrot belonged to the girlfriend of ringleader Adam Garnett, who was at the centre of a £1 million narcotics operation.
Police raided homes in Blackpool, seizing large quantities of cocaine and heroin. During the operation, officers discovered footage taken by gang members prior to the raid, which showed Mango repeating the drug-dealing phrase and playing with cash from the illicit trade.
The video, released by Lancashire Police on Wednesday, August 6, captures the bird squawking the incriminating words as it interacts with money. The evidence added to the case against Garnett and his 14 associates, who were subsequently convicted for their roles in the organised crime gang.
On Wednesday, the gang members were jailed for a combined total of more than 103 years. Garnett, the ringleader, received a significant sentence, while his accomplices were also handed lengthy prison terms. The case highlights an unusual twist in the fight against drug trafficking, with a parrot playing a key role in bringing down the operation.
