A pair of drug dealers have started prison sentences after cocaine, £1,000 cash and a fake gun were found inside a locked safe.

Officers pulled over a BMW back in March which they suspected to be used in the supply of drugs.

Driver Ion Dragomir was searched and found to be carrying two mobile phones, five bags of cocaine and £200 in cash.

He was arrested but claimed not to know his home address, which inquiries later discovered to be in Sheals Crescent in Maidstone.

Officers went to search the building and found Ionut Merchez inside, who said everything in the house belonged to him.

Police discovered a locked safe which contained 150 grams of cocaine, around £1,000 in cash and a fake firearm.

Merchez was arrested and later charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine while Dragomir was charged with possessing class A drugs with intent to supply and driving without a licence and insurance.

Merchez and Dragomir, of Alexandra Street, Maidstone both pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court.

Last Tuesday, Merchez, 29, was jailed for four years and four months which included 12 months’ imprisonment for breaching a suspended sentence.

Dragomir, 22, was sentenced to two years and four months’ imprisonment.

Investigating officer, DC Kim Bashford, said: "In this case, Merchez and Dragomir were swiftly brought to justice and cash suspected to be profits from their drug supply business was seized.

"As part of the sentence, the cash and the BMW have now been forfeited."