Teenager jailed for 16 months after hiding cocaine in vapes

Etmont Karitsi, a Greek national of no fixed abode, was stopped by police while driving a blue Renault Clio on July 1 of this year.

Etmont Karitsi, a Greek national of no fixed abode, admitted the offence (Image: Suffolk Police) The car was searched and police found two hollow vapes containing twelve small bags of cocaine.

The defendant’s phone was also seized, and it was confirmed he was involved in a post code model of drug dealing.

This model involves a boss called a “controller” and a “runner”, the prosecutor said Karitsi was the runner.

Karitsi gave a false address which pointed police to a bed and breakfast, but examination of the phone led to a different address where more than £15,000 of cash was found and significant quantities of cocaine.

The defendant gave no comment during police interviews but pleaded guilty to possession of class A drugs with intent to supply during a hearing at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court.

Sgt George Laflin from the West Sentinel team said: “We will continue to make Suffolk as inhospitable for those that come here to distribute drugs and ultimately cause misery to our local community.

"The overwhelming evidence meant that the defendant entered an early guilty plea."

The arrest and investigation was led by the Sentinel West team.

The three Sentinel teams across the South, West and Eastern areas of the county provide enhanced coverage of Suffolk’s road network to proactively disrupt serious and organised criminal activity as well as increase police visibility.

Mr Recorder Jeremy Benson KC imposed a 16-month jail sentence, which was reduced from the three-year starting point because of the defendant’s age and prompt guilty plea.