Kilogram of heroin found on seat of hire car
A kilogram of heroin was discovered by police in the back seat of a rental car – five minutes after it left an address in the Black Country, a jury heard.
Officers swooped on the Vauxhall Corsa and discovered the haul lying on a back seat in Park Road in Lye, the trial Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
Passenger Faition Duduci, aged 22, admitted possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply and money laundering.
Arber Zyba, who was driving the car, and fellow passenger Elton Hoxha both deny possession of the drug with intent to supply. Hoxha, 25, denies money laundering.
The jury was told the trio were on their way to Birmingham, leaving Duduc's home in Vicarage Road in Lye before being stopped on January 13.
Prosecuting, Mr Peter Arnold, said former plumber Hoxha picked up Duduci from his home in a Porsche Cayenne belonging to his boss, then dropped it off at a garage.
Zyba, 28, subsequently picked up the pair at the garage then briefly stopped at Duduci's house at his request, the jury was told. They parked up outside at 12.48pm and Duduci jumped out of the car and returned by 12.55pm when they set off towards Birmingham. It was at this point that police swooped.
Both Zyba, of Holly Lane, Erdington, and Hoxha said they had no idea there were drugs in the car and they had no involvement with the supply of drugs.
After a search, a total of £14,000 in cash and 410 Euros were found at Hoxha's home in Wychbury Road, Stourbridge, but he claimed this had been loaned to him by his family after he drove to Albania at the end of last year.
Hoxha said he didn't even know there were any drugs in the Vauxhall Astra until he was interviewed by police the day after being arrested. The trial continues.
