Tunbridge Wells: Dealer Hid Drugs In Pants

30 July 2014, 11:50 | Updated: 30 July 2014, 11:57

A drug dealer who hid heroin in his boxer shorts when he was stopped by police in Tunbridge Wells has been jailed for more than two and a half years.

Ajah Stracchan, 32, told officers "I'm just sorting my jeans out" as he tried to conceal wraps of heroin and crack cocaine earlier this year.

Stracchan, formerly of Villiers Road, Cricklewood was stopped by Kent Police on 20 March. A patrol travelling along St James' Road had recognised the Ford Focus he had been driving as a vehicle involved in the supply of drugs. Officers followed the vehicle to Stratford Street and located Stracchan inside, where he was then seen trying to conceal something in his underpants. When asked what he was trying to hide Stracchan claimed his jeans were uncomfortable.

He was searched and a cellophane bag, wrapped into a ball, was found tucked into the rear of his boxer shorts. Inside the bag were 48 separate wraps of crack and heroin. Forensic tests later showed each wrap weighed approximately half a gram and that combined the drugs had an estimated street value of almost £1,000.

During police interview Stracchan claimed it was all for his personal use, adding that he was both a crack and heroin addict. However, he refused to answer any questions about the vehicle he had been driving.

Stracchan appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday 25 July and was sentenced to 33 months in prison. He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.

Chief Inspector Dave Pate said: "Stracchan travelled from London to Tunbridge Wells with the sole intention of supplying drugs, after he wrongly assumed that this would be an easy place for him to deal heroin and crack cocaine. My officers are working relentlessly to identify those involved in the supply of drugs in our town and Stracchan is now the second London based drug dealer to be jailed in less than a month.

"As I have said before, it's very simple; if you try and sell drugs in Tunbridge Wells expect to be caught and expect to go to jail."