Jail for drug dealer who pretended to be a North Devon 'tourist'

A drug dealer who tried to claim he arrived in North Devon as a tourist has been jailed for 30 months.

Bulgarian national Aleksandar Dobrev, 47, appeared at Exeter Crown Court for sentence yesterday (Thursday, March 26) after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply a class A drug (cocaine) and acquiring/using/possessing criminal property.

The court heard how on Thursday, February 19 this year, two police officers were on patrol in North Walk, Barnstaple, when they noticed a black Ford Focus due to the manner in which it was being driven.

The vehicle was stopped and Dobrev identified himself under the name Nikolinov Dobrev, saying he’d recently arrived in the country as a tourist.

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The vehicle Dobrev was travelling in was searched and an officer located 23 capsules of white powder in a sock hidden in a panel behind the steering wheel.

Dobrev was also found in possession of £705 cash. He was taken to custody where a further three capsules of white powder was found in his sock.

At interview, Dobrev claimed the drugs in the car were not his. When asked about the drugs located on him in custody, Dobrev said the cocaine was for a party because “everybody does cocaine these days.”

Officer in the case DC Callum South said: “We welcome the sentence given to Aleksander Dobrev at Exeter Crown Court.

“Illegal drug use continues to have a devastating impact on communities across Devon and Cornwall with drug dealers often targeting society’s most vulnerable.

“We will continue to target the drug dealers who pedal misery. We fight tirelessly to bring them to justice and make our streets safer.

“Anybody who has concerns about illegal drugs use in their community should report it via 101 or our website, or 999 in case of an emergency.”

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