Inverness drug dealer will ‘return to Romania on his release’
A Romanian man was caught with 13 one gram bags of cocaine and £1330 in cash hidden in a sock after police became suspicious when he quickly picked up a passenger in an Inverness housing estate.
Iosif Mortiu (20), of no fixed abode, came to the attention of officers on a routine mobile patrol in Hilton on the afternoon of September 12 and they decided to stop his vehicle.
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Inverness Sheriff Court was told that his passenger freely admitted to officers that he was buying cocaine from Mortiu and he was arrested.
Fiscal depute Sophie Marshall said that his car was searched and the items were found.
Defending, Kevin Hughes said: "He was acting on a solitary basis and there is no excuse for his behaviour. He intends to leave Scotland and return to Romania on his release. There doesn't seem to be any other disposal other than custody."
Mortiu admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine, which was forfeited along with the money, and was sent to six months detention backdated to September 13.