Luxury drug dealer Simon Rooney of Burnley jailed for 20 years after NCA investigation
Luxuryfall’s Fall: Burnley Drug Dealer Jailed for 20 Years
Simon Rooney, a 39-year-old drug dealer from Burnley, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA). Rooney, who went by the handle ‘Luxuryfall’ on an encrypted messaging service, was found guilty of supplying cocaine, mephedrone, and amphetamines, as well as conspiracy to acquire and supply cutting agents.
Rooney’s downfall began when French law enforcement shared his messages from the messaging service with the NCA as part of Operation Venetic. NCA officers discovered that Luxuryfall was involved in supplying illegal drugs, including discussing the importation of cutting agents like tetramisole to increase profits.
Despite thinking he was anonymous, Rooney shared images of his lavish lifestyle, including his cars, garden, and house renovations, on the messaging service. He even shared an image of paperwork for a large quantity of tetramisole seized by Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport, further linking him to the drug supply chain.
In a separate investigation, Thames Valley Police (TVP) officers found evidence that Rooney had supplied amphetamines to an organized crime group in the Thames Valley and southeast of England. Forensic analysis confirmed Rooney’s DNA on the drugs and packaging, leading to his arrest and subsequent conviction.
NCA Senior Investigating Officer Andrew MacGill praised the collaborative efforts of the NCA, Border Force, and TVP in bringing Rooney to justice and removing a significant quantity of drugs from circulation. TVP investigating officer PC Adam Taylor also commended the outcome of the case, highlighting the removal of drugs from the supply chain and Rooney’s lengthy custodial sentence.
Rooney’s conviction serves as a warning to others involved in drug trafficking that law enforcement agencies are working together to dismantle criminal networks and protect communities from the harmful effects of illegal drugs.