Jail for the ‘Cannabis Candyman’

A gang of dealers sold thousands of cannabis sweets on Instagram and Snapchat, a court heard.

Reo Brandon Mangal, 24 Olivia Butler, 24, and Ceroan Mangal, 35, were caught when Butler was stopped for driving without insurance in Fortess Road, Camden in January 2021.

In the car were boxes of sweets and drinks full of THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis.

Butler claimed she was delivering the boxes to a friend and had no idea what was inside them.

But police found 114,629 text messages and 67,964 photos on her phone linking her to Reo Mangal and Ceroan Mangal who were arrested on October 8.

Wood Green crown court heard that the drugs were delivered by post and payment was send to three different bank accounts

Detective Inspector Darren Jones said: ‘This group brazenly thought they could get away with selling dangerous substances in plain sight on social media.

‘The hard work of our officers has put a stop to their criminality and closed a significant supply chain.

‘The impact of these substances should not be underestimated – they can cause an adverse reaction.

Edibles are typically stronger than other cannabis products and it’s impossible for the customer to know what ingredients have been included.

‘Removing drugs and other dangerous substances from our communities is key to reducing other associated crime that happen as a result of drug dealing, such as violence and anti-social behaviour.’

Reo Brandon Mangal, of Nazareth Gardens, Southwark, was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply class B drugs, supply of class B drugs and being concerned in the supply class B drugs at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday, 3 March.

Butler, of Evan Cook Close, Peckham, was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply class B drugs and being concerned in the supply class B drugs.

Ceroan Mangal of Pemberton Gardens, Archway, was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, after pleading guilty to possession of class B drugs and being concerned in the supply of class B drugs.

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