A drug dealer was caught red-handed transporting £37,500 worth of cocaine — after police pulled him over for having no road tax.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard Nicholas Day, 31, was caught by police waiting at a red traffic light on Hawkhill.
Police detectors in their vehicle picked up Day’s number plate and an alarm was activated signifying he had no road tax for the van.
Fiscal depute Vicki Bell explained: “At 11.55am on May 17 police officers were on routine patrol at Hawkhill.
“A van passed them with no excise duty and police officers followed the van and indicated for it to stop at Perth Road.
“The van stopped and the accused was the sole occupant.
“The van was searched and a rucksack containing three bags of white powder and a set of scales was found within it.
“The bags were later found to contain a total of 379g of cocaine with a value of between £18,750 and £37,500.”
Day, of Longhaugh Road, was taken to police headquarters at Bell Street where he was arrested, cautioned and charged.
When interviewed by police he told officers 28g of the Class A drug was for his personal use and the rest was to supply to others.
He said he had been involved in supplying cocaine to friends for five weeks.
Day admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine, a Class A drug, at Longhaugh Road and Perth Road, between April 10 and May 17, both this year.
Solicitor John Boyle, defending, said: “This was part of a police operation targeting bigger suppliers than him but he was caught amongst that.”
The court heard Day had no previous convictions, other than road traffic offences.
Mr Boyle told the court he would save mitigation for when reports were available.
Sheriff Carmichael deferred sentencing until January 9 for reports and assessments and Day was granted bail meantime.
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