Nuneaton bar owner caught with £50,000 of cocaine in warehouse, mistaken for ’50s mobster’

A former Nuneaton bar owner has been jailed after being caught with £50,000 worth of cocaine in his shed. Police say Edmond Borici, of Bettina Close, thought he could threaten violence against people he thought had disrespected him and thought he was a ’50s mobster’.

Officers were called to the former Luxe Lounge that Borici used to own after reports that a man had been threatened “with a gun” in the early hours of August 9 last year. A man told officers that Borici threatened him with a knife and that he had to defend himself with a beer keg.

Police found Borici and the man having a heated verbal altercation outside the premises in Bond Gate. Borici was arrested at the scene on suspicion of threatening a person with a bladed article – before officers made the initial discovery in the back room.

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After officers searched, they found a blue bag in the back storage room of the bar containing several other bags containing approximately 509g of cocaine in total. Police say it had a street value of around £50,000.

A second bag was found with 17g of cocaine in a rented BMW parked outside the premises in the back seat.

On the back seat of the car was a letter addressed to Borici. CCTV footage revealed Borici exiting the BMW earlier in the evening.

The footage also showed an altercation between Borici and the victim, during which the victim held a door closed to prevent Borici – who was holding a knife – from reaching him outside.

He was charged with affray, possession of cocaine with intent to supply and possession of a sharp object in a public place. At Warwick Crown Court on June 24, Borici was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

He must also pay a victim surcharge of £187, as well as £1,785 in a confiscation order under Section 27 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Speaking after the case, investigating officer DC Williams said: “Borici seemed to think he could play the part of a 1950s mobster, hiding his criminal activities behind a bar, threatening violence against people he believed had disrespectful.