Police find 4kg of weed in laundry bag after smelly dealer passes drug test

A drug dealer was caught with 4kg of cannabis in a laundry bag after police noticed he smelled of drugs but did not appear to have anything in his system. A “drug wipe” test was conducted at the side of the road Mihai Cocilnau after he was stopped and the police noticed the distinctive smell coming from him.

The 40-year-old drug dealer, of Daneshill Road, Westcotes, Leicester, was driving his Vauxhall Combo van along the A43 near Kettering when he was stopped by Northamptonshire Police at around 2.20pm on Sunday, February 25 . He has now been sentenced to 19 weeks after admitting possessing a Class B drug with intent to supply.

The force said in a case summary: “While officers were speaking to Cocilnau, they smelled what they believed to be cannabis coming from inside the van, which he tried to pass off as smoking the class B drug while what was in the vehicle.

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“However, when a roadside drug test came back negative, he informed officers he had cannabis in the van. A search was carried out under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act and a large quantity of the drug was found in a red. , blue and white laundry bag.

“In addition to the 4kg of cannabis, which had a retail value of between £12,280 and £16,360, a small quantity of the drug, which was in a box of washing capsules, was seized along with two mobile phones and two SIM cards.

“Cocilnau was arrested and later accused of possession with intent to supply a class B drug”.

He was remanded in custody and the case came to Northampton Magistrates’ Court two days later, where he was remanded in custody pending trial. The case was sent to Northampton Crown Court for trial, but on Thursday 23 May he pleaded guilty to the offense and was sentenced on the same day to 19 weeks in prison and ordered to pay a £154 surcharge pounds. .

The court also issued a confiscation order to destroy the drugs, mobile phones and SIM cards.

Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Nichola Sanderson said: “While some may not see this as a harsh enough sentence, I hope it deters anyone else who is thinking of dealing drugs in Northamptonshire and reinforces the message that we will catch you

“Drug harm is a priority matter for the force and we will continue to crack down and disrupt drug dealers, who prey on the most vulnerable people in our society and bring misery to our streets and communities.”