A drug dealer who tried to convince police his knife was for fishing purposes has been jailed after officers discovered a substantial stash of nitrous oxide canisters at his home.
The Suspicious Vehicle Stop
Louis Cummings, 20, from Ashford in Surrey, was travelling as a passenger in his friend's car when police officers on mobile patrol noticed the dark blue Peugeot behaving suspiciously on Town Lane in Stanwell. The incident occurred on June 25 when PC McGill observed the vehicle and approached after it came to a natural stop.
Officers noticed the passenger appearing to conceal something within the vehicle, prompting a search of the car. During the search, police uncovered a burner phone displaying messages that appeared related to drug dealing activities.
The Fishing Excuse That Didn't Work
When questioned about a knife found in the vehicle, Cummings claimed he had "just come back from fishing" - despite the complete absence of any fishing equipment in the car. The implausible explanation raised officers' suspicions further, leading to the arrest of both Cummings and the driver, 21-year-old Harvey Constable-Eliba, for being concerned in the supply of cocaine.
Police subsequently searched both men's homes, where the investigation took a significant turn. At Cummings' property, officers discovered 130 large nitrous oxide (NOS) canisters, commonly known as laughing gas, along with weighing scales containing traces of white powder, multiple phones and SIM cards, and an additional knife.
Court Sentencing and Consequences
Both men appeared at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday, November 25, where they faced multiple charges. Constable-Eliba received a three-year prison sentence for dealing cocaine and cannabis.
Cummings was sentenced to two years and eight months for dealing cocaine and cannabis, plus possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. Additionally, his previous suspended sentence for possession with intent to supply was activated to run consecutively, resulting in a total prison term of 43 months (three years and seven months).
Investigating Officer PC Duncan Mackenzie from the Proactive Investigation Team commented: "Drug dealing has no place in our community and can cause significant damage to the lives of many. We are pleased with this result and that Constable and Cummings will now spend time in prison so they can't cause disruption in the local area."
