A 29-year-old man from Middlesbrough has been sentenced to more than two years in prison after being caught with cocaine hidden inside his vehicle during a trip to Ramsgate. Krisian Salaj, received a sentence of two years and three months’ imprisonment at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
The incident occurred on the evening of Saturday, November 1, 2025, when officers patrolling the Plains of Waterloo area identified a suspicious silver Mazda. After following the vehicle to Albion Place, police detained Salaj for a search. While an initial search of his person uncovered a mobile phone and a large sum of cash, it was the specialized assistance of the K9 unit that led to the discovery of the illegal substances.
Police Dog Jagger and his handler were called to the scene to conduct a thorough sweep of the Mazda. During the search, the dog alerted officers to a concealed compartment behind a panel on the dashboard, where a large quantity of cocaine was found. Salaj was taken into custody and charged the following day with possession with intent to supply a Class A substance.
Salaj entered a guilty plea regarding the drug offences, leading to his recent sentencing. The court heard how the dealer had travelled from North Yorkshire to Kent with the concealed drugs before being intercepted by local patrols.
Detective Constable Amy Drury said:
‘Thanks to officers’ vigilance and a proactive stop, a significant quantity of cocaine has been removed from Kent’s streets, and an investigation has resulted in a drug dealer going to prison. We will not tolerate this kind of criminal activity in our county, and those who would travel here to commit crime should expect to be caught and brought before the courts. Drug dealing causes significant harm to individuals and communities, and we will continue to disrupt those involved and put offenders before justice.’