Dealer accidentally leads police to cocaine stash

A DRUG dealer was caught with more than £4,000 worth of cocaine in his car – after he reported it stolen to the police.

Mohammed Rahman, 24, unwittingly drew attention to his criminal behaviour when his Volkswagen Golf was recovered and searched.

Police found 28.9g of cocaine at 66% purity located in 22 bags in a pull-out compartment following the search on January 29, 2019.

The defendant, of Cardiff, was arrested and his home in Richards Terrace, Roath, was also searched.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday heard police found keys to a Citroen Berlingo also owned by Rahman and inside that vehicle they found white powder, bags and scales.

Two mobile phones were seized and a silver Nokia was found to contain messages related to the supply of class A drugs. Also seized were eight £50 notes which were later discovered to be counterfeit.

The total amount of cocaine recovered was 38.89g, with the highest purity at 80%, and had a street value between £1,800 and £4,200.

Rahman initially denied the offences but later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of counterfeit money.

Defence barrister William Bebb said his client had had the case “looming” over him for more than two years and described him as a “naive young man” who was running his own small operation in order to fund his own cocaine addiction.

Recorder Simon Mills sentenced Rahman to a total of two years and four months’ imprisonment.