Drug seller jailed after ‘Turkey tooth’ selfie helped police establish him
A drug dealer who sent a pal a selfie flaunting his new “Turkey teeth” had no idea it would assist police in securing his conviction. Coran Davies was in the dentist’s chair displaying his fresh dental work when he forwarded the photograph to his mate.
Additional messages between the duo had made reference to dealing cocaine and cannabis. What he didn’t realise was that his friend’s mobile was already under examination by officers as part of a continuing probe.
According to the North Wales Live, South Wales Police statement said: “Two men from Rhondda were jailed on Thursday, April 9, for supplying class A drugs and cannabis. Coran Davies, 23, of Porth, was arrested after officers used retrospective facial recognition technology on an image he’d sent to his drug dealer friend’s phone.”
The statement further read: “The image was of him on a dentist’s chair, having just had treatment for new teeth in Turkey and further messages referenced supplying cocaine and cannabis. Little did he know, his friend’s phone was already being analysed by detectives as part of an ongoing investigation.
“Back on September 25, officers had carried out a search warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act in Treherbert where they found an ounce of cocaine, cannabis and other drugs paraphernalia. Months later, on March 7, 2025, plain clothed officers spotted Davies driving through Tonypandy in a black Ford Fiesta and they arrested him.
“Dale Howell, 25, also of Porth, was a passenger in the car. He was also arrested.
“Both were searched and found to be in possession of cocaine, cannabis and thousands of pounds in cash.
They pleaded guilty to drugs offences and acquiring criminal property, namely money, and appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Thursday, April 9, to be sentenced.
“Coran Davies was jailed for 48 months and Dale Howell was jailed for 36 months.”
The term “Turkey teeth” is a slang term used to describe cosmetic dental work, most often veneers or crowns, where people travel to Turkey to have their teeth filed down and replaced with very bright, perfectly straight caps.
It has become popular because it can be significantly cheaper than getting similar work done in the UK, although it often produces a distinctive, uniform “ultra-white” look that stands out.
That distinctive dental work acted as a visual marker when officers later saw a man they believed to be Davies driving in Tonypandy.
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