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Facial recognition identifies drug dealer from Turkey teeth photo
South Wales Police used facial recognition technology to identify and arrest drug dealer Coran Davies after he sent a photo of his new dental work to a friend whose phone was under police investigation. Davies and his passenger were convicted of drug offences and received prison sentences of four and three years respectively.
7 March 2026 · Coran Davies · Privacy and surveillance
Coran Davies, 23, sent a photo of his new dental work to a friend from Turkey, not knowing the friend's phone was under police analysis as part of a separate investigation.
South Wales Police used facial recognition to identify Davies from the photo and arrested him on 7 March along with passenger Dale Howell, 25, from their car in Tonypandy.
Reported impact
Officers discovered drugs and thousands of pounds in cash in their possession.
Davies was jailed for 48 months and Howell was jailed for 36 months after both pleaded guilty to multiple offences including drug supply and possessing criminal property.