Corby Man Caught Red-Handed Swapping £1.3m Cocaine Stash in Kent
Drug Deal Foiled at Out-of-Town Retail Park
Vilmantus Jocius, 33, from Kesteven Way, Corby, was spotted by Kent Police exchanging a gas canister loaded with 13 kilograms of class A cocaine at a retail park in Thomsett Way back in September 2020.
Guilty After Trial at Maidstone Crown Court
Despite denying intent to supply, Jocius was found guilty following a tense trial and was sentenced on 23 June 2021 at Maidstone Crown Court.
On 15 September 2020, just before 8pm, officers watched Jocius hand over a gas canister concealed in a bath towel to a man in a red Mercedes Sprinter.
£1.3 Million Cocaine Haul Discovered
- The Sprinter was stopped shortly after at a petrol station.
- X-rays of the gas canister revealed 13 kilo blocks of cocaine inside.
- The drugs had a staggering street value of up to £1.3 million.
The Sprinter driver was arrested, but later found not guilty. Jocius, who fled the scene, was caught near the Dartford Crossing nine days later.
Driving Ban and Tough Words from Police
Alongside drug charges, Jocius was hit with an extended driving disqualification of five years and eight months for driving while banned.
“Jocius was clearly involved in a highly organised and very sophisticated plot to supply huge amounts of cocaine,” said Detective Constable Rebecca Veares.
“Our officers’ vigilance stopped a substantial amount of the drug hitting our streets and deprived criminals of a massive payout. Kent won’t tolerate drug dealers or criminals coming through.”
