Police find 4kg of weed in a 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 the drug but didn't seem to have any in his system. A "drug wipe" test was carried out at the roadside on 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, had been driving his Vauxhall Combo van along the A43 near Kettering when he was pulled over by Northamptonshire Police at about 2.20pm on Sunday, February 25. He has now been jailed for 19 weeks after admitting possessing a class B drug with intent to supply.

The force said in a summary of the case: "As the officers spoke to Cocilnau they smelt what they believed to be cannabis coming from inside the van, which he tried to pass off as him smoking the Class B drug while in the vehicle.

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"However, when a roadside drug wipe test proved negative, he informed the officers that he had cannabis in the van. A search under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act was carried out 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 amount of the drug, which was inside a washing capsule box, was seized along with two mobile phones and two SIM cards.

"Cocilnau was arrested and subsequently charged with one count of possession with intent to supply a Class B drug".

He was held in custody and the case went to Northampton Magistrates’ Court two days later, where he was remanded in custody until trial. The case was committed to Northampton Crown Court for the trial to take place, but on Thursday, May 23, he pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced on the same day to 19-weeks in prison and ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge.

A forfeited order was also issued by the court for the destruction of the drugs, mobile phones and SIM cards.

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

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