[Rufhfhs3747rhe7]

Why are drug dealers still using an easily trackable phone number for communication? Why not a 3rd party messaging and voice app like Matrix/Element? Am I incorrect in assuming that local police would not be able to easily track it?

[throwaway48375]

You are going to miss out on potential sales asking people to download and figure out some weird app and honestly the likelihood of getting caught is pretty low. I know people who have been selling drugs without even so much as changing numbers for many years.

Also even using these apps you are still on the cell network and there are methods for determining your phone number / IMSI. You wouldn't be immune to this type of tracking.

[orthoxerox]

Most criminals aren't very smart.

[dredmorbius]

Most criminals who are caught aren't very smart.

Sampling bias in the extreme.

[lucb1e]

A common response to why criminals sometimes do stupid things, but I haven't actually ever seen this substantiated.