Young Drug Dealer Busted in Canterbury with 300 Cocaine Wraps
A sharp-eyed police patrol in Canterbury has nailed an 18-year-old drug dealer after uncovering over 300 wraps of cocaine. The haul also included thousands in cash and drug paraphernalia, putting the dealer behind bars for more than two years.
Snared at Brymore Road, a Known Drug Hotspot
On Thursday, 9 October 2025, Canterbury’s Neighbourhood Task Force spotted Renato Selmai acting suspiciously outside a house on Brymore Road — a street notorious for drug dealing. When questioned, Selmai denied carrying drugs but became restless and tried to make a run for it. Officers caught him within seconds.
Massive Cocaine Stash Found at Selmai’s Home
Police arrested Selmai on suspicion of possession with intent to supply. A raid on his Brymore Road home revealed around 300 cocaine wraps, £2,000 in cash, and weighing scales coated in white powder. During questioning, Selmai claimed family debts in Albania forced him into dealing. He refused to name who was behind him, fearing for his safety.
Phone Messages and Guilty Plea Seal His Fate
Officers found drug slang messages on Selmai’s burner phone, including phrases like “online new stuff bang bang” and “happy hour best on both,” linked to numerous contacts. Lab tests confirmed the drugs were cocaine.
He pleaded guilty at Margate Magistrates’ Court the day after his arrest and was remanded in custody. On Thursday, 19 February 2026, Canterbury Crown Court sentenced him to two years and four months behind bars.
Detective Constable Tom Dempster: “Drug dealing is a blight on the local community. I welcome this result that takes these harmful substances and those who supply them off our streets. The sentence sends a clear message: we will push for the harshest possible outcomes for those profiting from harm.
I also want to praise the Neighbourhood Task Force officers whose local knowledge and quick actions stopped a significant quantity of drugs from flooding our community.”
