A Fife drug dealer admitted to police that he supplemented his supply by selling counterfeit cocaine.
Daniel Hanley palmed off his customers with bicarbonate of soda, Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court was told.
When officers raided the 31-year-old’s home and the address of a family member they found he had 46g of the class A drug – but almost five times that amount of the common baking ingredient.
The powder – normally used as a raising agent in cakes and biscuits – was “compressed to resemble cocaine,” the court was told.
Hanley, from Leslie, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of actual drugs and will be sentenced next month.
‘Charlie’ in the kitchen
Fiscal depute Laura McManus said that the real cocaine was found in various small stashes across two addresses.
“Having received intelligence about the misuse of drugs, officers craved and were granted a search warrant at the accused’s address and address of another in Leslie, the home of a family member of the accused,” she said.
“The accused was not present when entry was forced by police officers but returned while they were there.
“He was cautioned and said ‘there’s Charlie in the kitchen’.”
Officers found five bags of cocaine of varying amounts, plus cash and an illegal stun gun.
One of two mobile phones found at the house had a number of messages indicating that Hanley was selling the drug.
A search was also carried out at the family member’s property where cops believed items were being stored.
Officers found three separate quantities of cash, totalling almost £1,500, and 18g of cocaine hidden in a Kinder egg.
They also found 212g of a white powder that did not test positive for any known drugs.
Supply of fake drugs
Ms McManus told the court: “The accused was arrested and cautioned.
“He stated he didn’t know a taser was a firearm.
“He admitted to using cocaine at the weekends.”
The fiscal depute told the court: “The accused stated he had a substance at his family member’s address, which was bicarbonate of soda compressed to resemble cocaine.
“He admitted selling real cocaine and then supplying fake drugs later.”
In total cops found 46g of the class A drug with a street value of £4,650, alongside £7,255 in cash.
Asked by Sheriff Robert More if the 212g of white powered turned out to be bicarbonate of soda, Ms McManus confirmed it had.
Hanley, of Maryfield Crescent, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine from two addresses in Leslie and Glenrothes between December 2, 2020 and January 7, 2021.
He further admitted possession of a taser device at his home.
Sentence was deferred for reports.
Bicarbonate of soda is commonly used as a raising agent in cakes and biscuits.
It can also be used as a mouthwash, tooth whitener, deodorant and eco-friendly cleaner.
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