Two men locked up after huge cocaine haul and cash seized from Maidstone safe
Two men have been jailed after police uncovered cocaine stashed inside a locked safe at a Maidstone address — along with thousands in cash.
Police stop BMW in suspected drug bust
On 29 March 2022, Maidstone community officers spotted a BMW they suspected was linked to drug dealing. When the car slowed in heavy traffic, cops pulled it over. Driver Ion Dragomir, 22, was searched. Officers found two mobile phones, five small bags of cocaine, and £200 in cash.
Locked safe reveals massive drug stash
Dragomir claimed he didn’t know his home address. Police tracked him to a property on Sheals Crescent. Inside, they found 29-year-old Ionut Merchez. He told officers everything inside the house was his.
A search of the premises uncovered more than 150 grams of cocaine, around £1,000 cash, and an imitation firearm — all hidden inside a locked safe.
Guilty pleas lead to jail
Both Merchez and Dragomir pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court. Merchez was handed four years and four months behind bars — this includes 12 months for breaching a suspended sentence. Dragomir was jailed for two years and four months.
Investigating officer DC Kim Bashford said: “Maidstone’s Community Policing Team keep a close eye on those dealing drugs. They won’t hesitate to stop and search suspects out and about.“Merchez and Dragomir were quickly brought to justice. Cash suspected to be the profits from their drug business has been seized. As part of their sentences, the cash and BMW have now been forfeited.”
