He told police: “I have not seen that. It’s not mine. It’s not even my car. I have just bought it.”
Drug dealer Xhelil Poga has been jailed(Image: Humberside Police)
Police found a potentially lucrative stash of cocaine after stopping a car and suspecting that the occupants were involved in drug dealing. The driver claimed to know nothing about the bags of cocaine and tried to talk his way out of trouble by saying that he had “just bought” the car.
He later claimed that he had been subjected to violence in a bid to force him to get involved in drug dealing, Hull Crown Court heard. Xhelil Poga, 31, of Welbeck Street, west Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply, driving while disqualified and having no insurance on June 13.
Oliver Shipley, prosecuting, said that police in an unmarked car saw a Vauxhall Corsa in North Ferriby at about 1.30pm and realised that it was uninsured. It was suspected that the occupants were involved in the supply of drugs and the car driver was asked to stop in New Walk.
Police approached the driver’s door and the driver, Poga, was holding a mobile phone. This was taken from him. He and the passenger were searched.
Poga told police: “I have just bought it from someone. Numerous snap-seal bags of a white powder were in the driver’s door pocket.
Poga was arrested. He claimed regarding the cocaine: “I have not seen that. It’s not mine. It’s not even my car. I have just bought it.”
There was £105 cash in his wallet. Police went to a house in Welbeck Street and a search was carried out. Two phones were found. The white powder in the 40 snap bags was found to be cocaine.
During police interview, Poga made no comment to all questions. He had convictions for 18 previous offences between 2019 and last year, including being jailed for eight weeks for driving while disqualified and having no insurance on September 10 last year.
He had five other offences of driving while disqualified and three for drugs, including possessing cannabis with intent to supply and possessing cocaine in March 2003 as well as possessing cocaine in January 2020.
Billy Torbett, mitigating, said that Poga claimed that he had been the victim of violence, bullying and intimidation by Albanian men and that he had been forced to become involved in the drug dealing. His claims were accepted by the prosecution.
He pleaded guilty, regretted his behaviour and he had been remanded in custody for several months. A request was made for Poga to be given a suspended prison sentence because of the circumstances of how he came to be involved.
Poga was jailed for two years and eight months. The phones will be forfeited and the £105 cash seized will be given to the St Paul’s boxing club charity, Hull.
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