Cocaine found hidden in Glasgow drug dealers' Red Bull cans

Sebastian Drulea, 24, and Pavel Paptanaru, 23, were snared in a car in Glasgow's St George's Cross on June 26 2024.

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.

The court heard that officers watched an unknown person enter a car and exit after 10 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.

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by Sheriff John McCormick.

He said: "Your bail will be continued but you must be aware that custody must be in the upper most of the court's mind.
"These Class A drugs had been hidden in innocent looking items."