Inverness drug-dealer’s cocaine stash found after police search hotel room
A routine check by a police patrol on a car in Inverness's Leachkin area snared a 21-year-old drug dealer with cocaine and cash totalling almost £2000.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Luca Benchea, described as a prisoner at Barlinnie where he was being held on remand pending sentence, was stopped on Leachkin Road and officers saw a crack pipe in the vehicle.
• Sign up for our free newsletters
Fiscal depute Emily Hood told Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald: "Officers suspected he was under the influence of drugs and a search was carried out."
Ms Hood said bags of white powder and £160 in cash was recovered. Then a search of Benchea found a key for an Inverness hotel room and officers went there.
She said they got permission to search the room after being told that Benchea had been resident there but was no longer welcome.
A total of 18 zip-sealed bags containing cocaine were recovered in both searches with a street value of up to £1800.
Benchea admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class A narcotic and sentence was deferred until April 1 for a background report.
Defence solicitor Patrick O'Dea reserved his comments in mitigation until then and his client was once more remanded in custody.
