Suspected Portsmouth heroin dealer caught in hotel pretending to be a key worker
A SUSPECTED heroin dealer secured a hotel room for his base of operations after masquerading as a key worker.
Hampshire police said the man had secured a room at the property in Elphinstone Road, Southsea, but suspicions were raised on February 7.
Detectives at around 10.25am found him having provided ‘suspected fraudulent evidence that he was a key worker’.
Only genuine key workers can get access to hotels in lockdown under the Health Protection Regulations.
Police searched his room and found a ‘significant quantity’ of class A drugs and related paraphernalia.
The News reported the find yesterday but police have now released further details.
A police spokeswoman said: ‘Following enquiries by officers, a man was found to be staying at the property after providing suspected fraudulent evidence that he was a key worker, which is required to secure a hotel room under current Health Protection Regulations.
‘Officers conducting a subsequent room search discovered a significant quantity of Class A drugs and drug paraphernalia.'
A Portsmouth man, 27, was arrested on suspicion of having or controlling an article for use in fraud, being concerned in the supply of heroin and having criminal property.
‘He has been released on conditional police bail while enquiries continue,’ the spokeswoman said.
It comes as police arrested 17 suspected dealers in a two-week period focussing on county lines drugs gangs.