Cocaine Dealer Tangoed & Smashed

A cocaine dealer, who hid eight wraps of the drug inside a fake can of Tango, has been locked-up for three years and four months.

Michael Ballard, 22, (pictured) of Baker Street, Enfield was caught by City Of London cops after a car he was travelling in with pals was pulled over.

When his north London home was searched more cocaine was found along with drug paraphernalia, plus evidence of dealing to a wide range of users via his mobile phone records.

The Old Bailey heard police stopped the vehicle on September 6, last year after an Automated Number Plate Recognition activation.

Officers searched the car and found a ‘dummy’ can of Tango hidden under the seat where Ballard had been sitting. 

Hidden inside the can were eight wrapped up Lotto slips, each containing cocaine. 

Police Constable Thomas Hayball said: “Ballard was responsible for dealing drugs to a lot of people, by removing him from the equation, further drug related crimes will be prevented. 

“His guilty plea and the sentenced passed at court reflects the strong evidence gathered by City of London Police and I am very pleased with the outcome.”