A REDDITCH drugs kingpin has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years after he was identified from a picture of him posing with ‘Gorilla Glue’ in his hand.

Elliot Morris, 28, was forensically linked to a gang who were supplying large amounts of cannabis in Wales after he posed for a picture with his ‘Ikea’ and ‘Skype’ branded drugs.

His parents, Darren and Dominique Morris, were also sentenced for their role in the gang, after police tracked a car transporting drugs from Wales to their address in Redditch.

The family had been producing ‘Gorilla Glue’ - a particular strain of cannabis - at a cannabis factory in their home, as well as at a second house rented out by Darren and Dominque.

Elliot was traced to a rural log cabin hide-out where another cannabis factory had been set up, and was arrested alongside his girlfriend Rosaleen Abdel-Salam and Chazino Suban.

On top of Morris’ links to the cannabis conspiracy, officers were able to prove he was also responsible for supplying huge amounts of ecstasy, a Class A drug.

Fingerprint experts identified Morris after enhancing a picture of a hand holding a number of tablets.

Police were also able to prove that he had almost £20,000 hidden in bitcoin accounts – the majority of which, Elliott admitted, was gained from his illegal drug sales.

In total, cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy worth around £36,000 and around £21,000 in cash, was recovered during the investigation.

The investigation began after police followed up on suspicions about drugs being sold by gang member Joe Thomas’ home in Laing Street, Bridgend.

After witnessing a drugs drop-off at the house on August 23 last year, officers executed a warrant, arresting Thomas, 25, and four associates – Aaron McKay, Danial Jenkins, Nathan Burgess, and Michael Rouse – after cannabis was found.

Officers also searched the home of Rouse, who had made the drop-off, where they found more drugs.

The drugs at both addresses were in bags marked ‘GG’ – which later transpired to stand for Gorilla Glue.

Officers were also able to track Rouse’s car and that of a seventh defendant, Jonathan Scanlon, making regular trips to and from Redditch to transport the drugs.

Analysis of Mckay’s phone uncovered Whatsapp messages dating back months, which linked him to the up-stream suppliers, the Morris family in Redditch

At sentencing in Cardiff Crown Court on March 14, the 10-member gang was sentenced for more than 20 years for their involvement in a conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Morris, who was also convicted of possessing MDMA with intent to supply and possessing cocaine, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years.

Darren Morris, 51, was jailed for 27 months, while Dominique Morris, 44, was jailed for 12 months.

Morris’ girlfriend Rosaleen Abdel-Salam, 25, of Tutnall, Bromsgrove, was fined £350 for possessing ecstasy.