ANNEX 10: UK RETAINED COMMUNICATIONS DATA USE CASES
Further enquiries established that a girlfriend of the individual had three children all
less than four years old. After investigation both were convicted of the serious sexual
abuse of the children. The children had been found in conditions of neglect, described
by an officer as filthy, unsanitary and unfit for human residence.
Case 4
4.
Internet data were used in an investigation into the grooming of a 13-year-old girl on
an internet chat service. Examination of the victim's computer by the authorities
revealed the email address of a man who had coerced the girl into sending naked
photographs of herself and exposing herself during webcam chat. Police officers
made enquiries about the e-mail address which revealed the IP address belonged to
an address in Wales. Further investigation resulted in the man being charged
preventing potentially more serious sexual offences taking place.
Case 5
5.
In 2010/ 2011 police used data from thousands of calls over the previous 12 months
between more than a dozen mobile phones to dismantle a nationwide cocaine
trafficking ring. Two gang members found to be in possession of 3.58 kg of cocaine
(valued 165,000 EUR) were arrested and their mobile phones seized. Detectives then
spent months examining communications data to identify links between the other
members of the group. This resulted in conviction of six gang members who were
sentenced for a total of 53 years imprisonment and the confiscation of 61,000 EUR in
cash which is being used to fund police operations targeting other drug dealers.
Case 6
6.
Operation Frant was a detailed investigation into a number of drug dealers who were
flooding London and the UK with high grade heroin from Afghanistan. The aim was
to target the individuals who were masterminding this organised crime network, and
as they were not 'hands on' the only possible method of detection was detailed
investigation of communications data. The first part of the operation targeted the
'runners' with their consignments. In December 2007 Ghaffor Hussein was arrested
in possession of a kilogramme of heroin and in January 2008 Christian Bailey was
arrested in possession of 8 kilos of heroin. In April 2008 Harminder Chana and Patrick
Kuster (a Dutch national) were arrested in possession of 356 kilos of heroin, having
been under surveillance when the exchange took place. One of the ringleaders, Atif
Khan, was also arrested later that day on the basis of telephone data and additional
surveillance evidence linking him and Chana. Upon arrest all suspects' telephones
were seized enabling investigators to obtain the cell site data and establish who
orchestrated the deals. Mobile telephone call logs revealed that a certain telephone
number had been used to call Khan's telephone 26 times, along with several texts, in
a 45-minute period after Khan’s arrest. This so-called “dirty telephone” was attributed
to one Abdul Rob by cell site analysis which showed two mobile phones always in the
same place at the same time. The telephone evidence was crucial in the case against
Rob as there was no previous surveillance evidence of association with the other
members of the network. Four members of the network were convicted for conspiracy
to supply heroin and sentenced for total 81.5 years imprisonment.
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