A man from Epsom has been jailed for 21 months after storing illegal drugs while posing as a taxi driver.

On Friday, June 16, officers conducted a vehicle stop on a white Prius on East Street in Epsom.

It had been displaying taxi symbols in the windows, however there was only one passenger sitting in the front of the vehicle and, on checking the vehicle details, it was not insured as a taxi.                                                      

Officers suspected that the driver was purporting to be a taxi driver as a cover for supplying drugs.

26-year-old Ermal Metalia, of no fixed address, was detained for a drugs search and subsequently arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, fraud, and driving without insurance.

Following a further search in police custody, officers discovered that he had hidden 26 bags of cocaine in his underwear.

Metalia was charged with using a motor vehicle on a road without third party insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance, for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, and possession and control of ID documents with intent.

On Friday, August 18, Metalia was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment for PWITS Class A at Guildford Crown Court.

He was also given six points on his driving licence for driving without insurance and driving other than in accordance with his licence.