Bizarre Bust: English Inmate Ran Drug Ring from Prison — Parrot ‘Snitches’ and Sparks Raid – ONGOING INVESTIGATION

Wolverhampton (WV1) – In what authorities are calling one of the most unusual drug busts in recent memory, a convicted felon in England is accused of orchestrating a drug trafficking network from behind bars — until the operation was undone by the squawking of a pet parrot.

The alleged ringleader, 39-year-old Daniel McIntyre, was serving time at HMP Featherstone, a prison in Staffordshire, when investigators say he used smuggled mobile phones and encrypted messaging apps to coordinate cocaine and cannabis sales across the West Midlands. The operation ran undetected for over a year — until a bizarre tipoff came from a talkative African Grey parrot seized during a related house raid in Wolverhampton.

According to detectives, the bird repeated key phrases heard during drug handoffs, including “bag up the white” and “don’t forget Featherstone.” Officers initially thought the parrot was a novelty pet — until they realized it was repeating real-time instructions that matched surveillance logs. That intel led to a full raid, 12 arrests, and the recovery of £500,000 in narcotics and cash.

McIntyre has since been moved to a higher-security facility. Authorities are now expanding the investigation to determine how deeply the smuggling network penetrated the prison system.

Key Facts

• BREAKING: English inmate ran drug ring from HMP Featherstone; parrot exposed trafficking terms

• IMPACT: 12 arrests, £500K in drugs and cash seized across West Midlands

• OFFICIAL SOURCE: “This is the first time a parrot has helped crack a case.” – Det. Insp. Gareth Lowe

• ACTION: Report suspicious activity, even if it seems odd — like a talking pet

Hyperlocal Impact

1. Precise Location:
   Wolverhampton (WV1) – Raid conducted near Stafford Road & Bushbury Lane

2. Community Connection:
   “We thought it was just a noisy bird. Turns out it was a witness.”
   – Joanne B., neighbor near one of the raid sites

Exclusive Angle

• WHY THIS MATTERS NOW:
  The bust highlights ongoing concerns over contraband in UK prisons, with over 2,400 phones seized last year alone. Authorities are facing increasing pressure to tighten internal surveillance and crack down on encrypted communication networks operated by inmates.

Update Log

• 7:00 AM: Parrot seized during routine search begins repeating drug codewords

• 9:30 AM: Police link bird’s speech to encrypted logs from inmate’s burner phone

• 12:00 PM: Inmate transferred to Category A prison as investigation widens