A van driver made clever excuses to avoid a fine of over $100 for using his cell phone while driving. As a result of those excuses, the police got their hands on a cocaine stash worth $365,000. Read on to find out more.
According to Andrew Botto's account to the officers, the police stopped him for using his cell phone while driving, but the device, along with $3,000 in cash, was discovered later in October in the van.
The police grew suspicious of Botto and searched his properties. This included a freight container, the keys for which were found in his van. During the search, the police found a stash of class A drugs weighing around 1kg.
The 28-year-old driver from Swansea admitted possessing class A drugs that he intended to supply. He was sent to jail for five years.
According to the judge, Paul Thomas, if the drugs had been sold in 1g deals, Botto could have made as much as $365,000, a considerable sum of money. But instead he was arrested and given a five-year jail term.