Man claimed he was 'on holiday', then it all started to unravel

A drug dealer who was stopped by police gave police an extraordinary excuse when he tried to convince them he was on holiday. Adrian Badea was stopped by police in Tunbridge Well, Kent, some 223 miles from his home in Crewe in Cheshire.

The 27-year-old tried to convince officers that he was a tourist after they pulled over the BMW he was driving in March 2023. But his excuse soon collapsed, and Badea admitted that he had been carrying cocaine.

Badea was caught on police bodycam footage after they pulled him over. In the video he initially says that he is just “visiting the city” from Crewe.

However, after being questioned further by officers he admits that he is carrying drugs. Officers then searched the vehicle and found six bags of cocaine, cannabis, and £130 in cash.

Following the discovery, Badea was arrested. It would later come to light that he had been working for an organised crime group.

The black BMW belonging to Badea had been previously linked to suspicious activity prior to it being stopped in a retail park. Following the encounter Badea was charged with possessing cocaine with intent to supply, possessing cannabis, and driving without insurance.

Adrian Badea. Photo released January 15 2025. A drug dealer stopped 223 miles from home tried to convince police he was on holiday - before admitting he was carrying cocaine.Adrian Badea told officers in Tunbridge Wells, Kent he was a tourist when they pulled over his BMW in March 2023.Bodycam footage shows police talking to the 27-year-old, who tries to claim he is just "visiting the city" from his home in Crewe, Cheshire.But he admits carrying drugs after further questioning. — Adrian Badea -Credit:SWNS / Kent Police

After pleading guilty, Badea was sentenced to two years’ and four months in prison at Maidstone Crown Court on January 14 2025.

Sgt Ed Kavanagh, of Kent Police, said: “It’s always pleasing to hear from genuine tourists who are keen to visit and enjoy the many delights of Tunbridge Wells. Sadly, Badea wasn’t one of them.

“Checks to his phone showed he was being directed by a third party to multiple locations across west Kent to deal drugs. The device included postcode locations from users to have cocaine delivered to their doorsteps.

Video grab from police bodycam footage of the stop and arrest of Adrian Badea in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Photo released January 15 2025. A drug dealer stopped 223 miles from home tried to convince police he was on holiday - before admitting he was carrying cocaine.Adrian Badea told officers in Tunbridge Wells, Kent he was a tourist when they pulled over his BMW in March 2023.Bodycam footage shows police talking to the 27-year-old, who tries to claim he is just "visiting the city" from his home in Crewe, Cheshire.But he admits carrying drugs after further questioning. — Police released bodycam footage of the incident -Credit:SWNS / Kent Police

“This sentence is just the latest in several recent successful convictions of drug dealers who have tried to target Tunbridge Wells. It again illustrates just how effective our officers are in identifying offenders, many of whom are travelling from other areas of the country, and wrongly assuming we are a soft touch.”

EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel