Cocaine falls from dealer's underpants who claims he had no drugs
The Tunbridge Wells drug dealer made a desperate attempt to conceal the drugs after his car was stopped by police
More than 40 street deals of cocaine fell from the underwear of a Tunbridge Wells drug dealer when he was stripped searched by officers in custody.
Mateus Parente had made a desperate attempt to conceal the drugs after the car he was driving had been stopped by plain clothes patrols.
The grey Mazda rental vehicle was initially followed by police on 27 March 2025, amid suspicions it was linked to the supply of cocaine in the town. Parente entered a car park in Southborough and after realising he was being approached by police was seen through the driver’s window leaning towards the front console with his hands reaching his waistband.
Officers from the Tunbridge Wells Neighbourhood Taskforce detained him for a search under the Misuse of Drugs Act. This led to the initial seizure of £200 in cash and a single vial of cocaine from a sock within the driver's door.
A strip search was then carried out in custody, where a black sock fell from Parente’s underwear which contained a further 42 vials of cocaine. Further evidence was found on his phone including postcode of users he was delivering to, as well as a photo which showed one of the vials in his hand.
Parente, 26, of Limes Road, Croydon pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to charges of possessing cocaine with intent to supply and driving without insurance. On 24 June, he was sentenced to two years and two months’ imprisonment.
Detective Constable Matt Kujtkowski said: "Parente is another dealer from outside of Kent who wrongly thought he could operate in Tunbridge Wells, without consequence. We know criminals like him will continue to target our neighbourhoods but I’d like to reassure residents we will continue to deal robustly with anyone involved in the supply of drugs, to ensure that they get the punishment they deserve. There will be no let up."
DC Kujtkowski added: "Users who consume cocaine really need to understand how their actions can have a profound impact on where they live. The so-called recreational use of this drugs creates a demand which directly leads to organised crime that blights our communities, putting people in harm’s way, and at risk of violence on the streets from the criminal gangs involved."