Drug dealer had £200k of cocaine stashed in Basildon container

Steven Hayes' huge stash of the Class A drug was recovered by the National Crime Agency after the force busted him and Clive Holmes exchanging drugs in a car park.

The NCA carried out raids at various properties including the container unit in Basildon, which Hayes had been renting out.

The force discovered that 30-year-old Hayes had stashed three blocks of cocaine, weighing a kilo each, inside the unit.

The blocks of cocaine

The blocks were hidden amongst other items such as car wheels, seats, doors and other vehicle parts.

This combined with another kilo that was discovered during the drug deal brought the street value total of the drugs to £200,000 if sold on the streets in the UK.

The green container which Hayes stashed the drugs in Basildon

Adam Berry, Operations Manager at the NCA, said: "These men were involved in the distribution of cocaine for criminal profit, and it is important that they have been brought to account.

"The cocaine trade drives violence and intimidation in communities across the UK.

"The NCA continues to target and pursue those involved in Class A drugs supply, and to protect the public from the impact of serious and organised crime."

Inside the container where the drugs were hidden

Hayes, of North Weald Bassett, was also found to have modified his car to contain a hidden storage compartment to stash the drugs when taking them out to deals.

The hidden compartment for drugs in Steven Hayes' car

Hayes along with Holmes, 46, of High Wycombe, were arrested in November last year, after the two met at Kingsmead Business Park in High Wycombe after being under surveillance by the NCA.

Officers detained Holmes after seeing him get into Hayes’ car empty-handed, and then leave holding a supermarket bag.

This bag was found to contain a brick-sized block of cocaine weighing a kilogram.

Steven Hayes under surveillance in Basildon

Shortly after, Hayes was stopped whilst driving in Epping, and subsequently failed a drugs test.

Evidence of drug supply was found at both of their homes, including scales, a vacuum packing machine and white powder.

At Chelmsford Crown Court, Hayes was sentenced to five years and Holmes was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, having both admitted the charges at an earlier hearing.

Clive Holmes