
Bulgarian authorities seize a large amount of cocaine hidden in a van
According to customs officials, the nearly 206 kilograms (453 pounds) of cocaine was the largest seizure at Bulgaria's land border. A vehicle inspection led to the discovery of the drugs valued at 20 million euros ($22 million). The drugs were hidden in 179 sealed bags stashed among personal belongings in five suitcases.
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12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dealer has £2k debt paid off by gran - now he's been jailed
Debt-ridden Sean Burton sold three drugs to reduce the money he owed his dealer. The 22-year-old was just 16 when he was introduced to drugs and ran up a £13,000 debt. He was pressured to sell heroin, cocaine and cannabis to reduce the debt. But police busted the operation after investigating two drugs lines. Now Burton has been jailed for 31 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. READ MORE: Student entrepreneur running business from bedroom makes £788k made-up VAT claim READ MORE: Shein shopper buys handbag - and can't believe what was inside Police arrested Burton on January 9. They seized his phone and attended his address. They recovered a blue wrap containing 2.3 grams of cocaine; 4.78 grams of heroin; digital scales with traces of heroin, cocaine and caffeine; 9.47 grams of cannabis; an iPhone; and £45. The iPhone was registered to the defendant's then partner. Prosecutor Danny Smith said: "Drug users contacted the phone and asked how much they owed. The user agreed a payment time and date for the debt." The court heard Burton has a previous conviction for conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Burton, of Arbour Street, Hanley, pleaded guilty to two charges of being concerned in the supply of a class A drug and one charge of being concerned in the supply of a class B drug. Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said Burton was 'employed to pay off a debt'. He said: "He clearly did not have an operational or management function in the chain. He had some awareness of the scale of the operation. He was performing a limited role under direction. He was being controlled by others to whom he owed the debt. He has no influence on those above him in the chain. "At 16 he was introduced to drugs by people significantly older than him. He got into debt as a result of his drug use. He was offered the opportunity to get out of debt by supplying drugs. At 16, he saw those older individuals making money. He accepts he stupidly looked up to them and the lifestyle that they were living." Mr Muldoon said Burton has not offended since his arrest and has taken steps to move away from his association with the individuals who were controlling him. His gran paid them £2,000 and they appear to have accepted that as an end to his involvement. Mr Muldoon added: "He is adamant this will be his last time before the court. He wants to obtain gainful full-time employment and he wants to have a family." Mrs Justice Tipples said: "You submitted a basis of plea which said you accepted taking part in the supply of drugs. The reason was due to having a debt. It amounted to £13,000. You were worried for the safety of your family. The people involved were aware of their addresses. You were receiving calls to remind you that you had an outstanding debt that needed to be paid. You say you had no other way to pay the debt back." Get all the latest news from court here
Yahoo
2 days ago
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Watch: the moment a drug dealer police nicknamed 'Gangster Granny' is arrested
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Yahoo
3 days ago
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Birmingham judge expresses sadness at jailing drug dealer caught just two days after setting up
A judge expressed sadness at having to jail a drug dealer who was caught just two days after starting out in his illegal enterprise. Imraj Randhawa was still setting up his client list when police spotted him supplying multiple known drug users in Bedworth, Warwickshire, within a few minutes of each other. They stopped him and ultimately found around £200 worth of cocaine and heroin in his Ford Kuga car and back at his home. READ MORE: First picture of asylum seeker who raped girl, 12, above shop after saying streets weren't safe Officers also seized various weapons, including a machete and claw hammer, as well as mobile phones. Randhawa claimed he only got into dealing after losing his job, trying to pay off his brother's debt and then becoming addicted to drink and cocaine himself. The 34-year-old from Tresillian Road, Coventry was jailed for two and a half years at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday, July 23, dashing his faint hopes of a suspended sentence which has a two-year threshold. He had pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply. Recorder William Webb KC said: "You made a bad choice. I think you know you made a bad choice and I am sure you would not make it again." He added: "This is a sad case. I have reduced the sentence at each stage as much as I can legitimately. "It does not go to a level where I'm permitted to consider a suspended sentence. "That's the nature of class A drug dealing I am afraid." Prosecutor Jas Dhaliwal told the court that shortly after 1.15pm on October 15 last year police arrested Randhawa in Saunders Avenue, Bedworth after observing him drive around in a Ford Kuga and interract with three known drugs users. They found various wraps in his car as well as two mobile phones, a claw hammer and £45 in cash. Officers seized further drugs and paraphernalia from a shoe box at his home and a list of contacts from his wardrobe. One of the phones, a Nokia, was examined. Mr Dhaliwal said: "There were 19 messages between October 13 and October 15. "The defendant was sending out marketing advertising messages to customers stating he's active. "He received direct messages from users to him asking to buy drugs for cash or on tick. He was arranging meetings." He added that a drugs expert witness concluded Randhawa had only set up the business two days before being caught. "He was still attempting to build up a client base given the list of mobile phone contacts," said Mr Dhaliwal. Jeevan Mann, defending, told the court Randhawa had a positive side to his character including teaching boxing to children. He said: "This defendant was employed but his employment was terminated. "He has a brother who had accumulated an extensive drug debt. "This defendant then bore the responsibility of paying off the debt. "As a consequence, he did start suffering mental health issues. "He became depressed and anxious about paying the debt. Eventually he was offered the opportunity to earn money by way of supplying drugs. "A decision he regrets. Looking back in hindsight he was naive to be getting involved in selling drugs." Mr Mann stated Randhawa was given a phone, a list of contacts and was told what to do. "At the same time, simultaneously, he began developong a dependence on alcohol and cocaine," he added.