Watch as police find sock full of coke hidden in steering column of drug dealer's moped

A DRUG dealer had hidden supplies of cocaine found concealed within the steering column of a moped he was riding.

Keen-eyed police officers made the discovery after they spotted screws missing from a front panel after stopping the bike in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

It was driven by Victor Pereria Da Luz (above) who was supplying drugs throughout the town and who has now been jailed.

Pereria Da Luz was followed by plain clothed patrols on 4 June 2025 to Crawford Close, after the moped had been seen being driven erratically.

He appeared nervous when officers approached and immediately reached for his mobile phone in efforts to lock the device.

A search was carried out under the Misuse of Drugs Act and an inspection of the moped led to the discovery several screws were missing from a panel next to the steering column. Officers quickly used tools to remove the remaining screws and found a black sock inside. It contained 12 vials of cocaine. Almost £900 in cash was also seized.

Pereria Da Luz, 26, of Walden Avenue, Chislehurst, Bromley was charged with possessing cocaine with intent to supply and with possessing criminal property (namely the seized cash). He pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court, where he also admitted driving without a licence or insurance.

On Monday 11 August, Pereria Da Luz was sentenced to two years and seven months’ imprisonment.

Sergeant Ed Kavanagh, of the Tunbridge Wells Neighbourhood Task Force, said: "Drug dealers like Pereria Da Luz frequently use vehicles to conceal cocaine and other illicit substances, often utilising increasingly elaborate hiding places. However, at the same time our officers are trained to spot the signs and use their expert knowledge, keen instincts, and evolving search tactics, to consistently identify suspects and uncover their stashes. Every successful search is a step closer to dismantling the networks that fuel drug-related harm in our communities."