Dealer hid crack cocaine in his pants

Two county lines drug dealers operating in Peterborough have been sentenced after being caught in the act by police officers.

Robert Facuna, 19, and Patrik Kotlar, 20, were given suspendedsentencesafteradmittingtheirroleindealingfor the ‘Predator’ County Line.

County lines is the name given to drug dealing where organised criminal groups (OCGs) use phone lines to move and supply drugs, usually from cities into smaller towns and rural areas.

Drugs worth more than £2,600werefoundinFacuna’s boxer shorts when he was arrested.

The pair were arrested in Parnwell after they were found with drugs and a “deal line”mobilephoneintheearly hours of 12 October last year.

The officers had been searchingforamissingperson at about 1am when they came acrossKotlar’sAudiA4parked with the engine running in St Michael’s Gate.

Facuna was in the passenger seat and two teenage boys in the back.

Kotlar, of Wollaston Road, Westwood, Peterborough, came out of the nearest house and was found with a mobile phone and a SIM card which, after being analysed, uncovered clear evidence of largescale drug dealing across

Peterborough.

Facuna, of Midland Road, Peterborough,wasfoundwith about £220 worth of cannabis, as well as a mobile phone which again showed he was heavily involved in drug dealing.

InsidetheAudiwerewraps of crack cocaine and heroin worth about £840.

Inthehouseofficersfound a make-up bag containing small plastic “deal bags” and almost £3,000 worth of heroin and crack cocaine inside the pocket of a coat which had been hidden in a fridge.

Facuna, Kotlar and three teenage boys were all arrested and taken into custody at Thorpe Wood Police Station.

Astrip-searchofFacunain custodyrevealedabout£2,680 worthofcrackcocainehidden in his boxer shorts.

Examination of Kotlar’s mobile phone showed it was the main phone number linked to the “Predator” drug line – a county line running in Peterborough.

The pair both admitted possession with intent to supply class A, and Facuna also admitted possession of cannabis.

The three teenage boys werereleasedfrompolicecustody under investigation.

Kotlar and Facuna appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on 9 June. Kotlar was sentencedtotwoyearsinprison suspended for two years.

Facuna was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison suspended for two years.

Det Con Claire Atkinson, who investigated, said: “Facuna and Kotlar are significant dealers for the ‘Predator’ line, and have now landed themselves before the courts at such a young age.

“Sadly, we are seeing more and more young people getting drawn in to county lines drug dealing. I would urge members of the public to speak to someone if they have concerns about a young person as help is available before it reaches this stage.”

Information about county lines, along with how to report concerns, can be found ontheforcewebsiteathttps:// www.cambs.police.uk/advice/ advice-and-information/cl/ county-lines