Adobe StockTwo drug dealers caught with their haul hidden in bogus cans of Coca-Cola and Red Bull have avoided jail.
Sebastian Drulea, 24, and Pavel Paptanaru, 23, were snared in a car in Glasgow’s St George’s Cross on June 26 last year.
Officers who kept tabs on the pair caught the men with a quantity of cocaine and ecstasy totalling £2,280.
The drugs were secreted in a bag which contained what appeared to be “innocent” drinking containers.
However, the tops were able to be removed, and the drugs were found inside a hidden cavity.
Drulea and Paptanaru – both first offenders – pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to being concerned in the supply of drugs.
Sheriff John McCormick ordered the pair to do 200 hours of unpaid work each and tagged them for six months.
Drulea will be indoors between 7pm and 6.30am, while Paptanaru’s times were set between 8.15pm and 5.30am.
The court previously heard that officers watched an unknown person enter a car and exit after ten seconds.
The officers approached the motor after they could smell cannabis coming from it. Both men were found inside.
The vehicle was searched, and a rucksack was found in the passenger footwell.
Prosecutor Josh Dowie said: “A large quantity of drugs were in a Lynx can, a Red Bull can, a Coke can and a bottle of water.
“The bottle of water appeared to be full from the outside.
“All the items’ tops screwed off to reveal an empty cavity which contained wraps of suspected drugs.”
Cocaine, as well as MDMA, in crystal and tablet form, were recovered.
Mobile phones belonging to Drulea, of the city’s Tollcross, and Peptanaru, of Cowcaddens, were also noted to be ringing as the drug search went on.
The hearing was told that Drulea was paying off a drug debt at the time and had been threatened with violence.
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