A man from Essex had admitted drug dealing after being caught with cocaine and cash in his car in the Highlands.
Antoni Anastas was stopped by police who noticed a light out on his vehicle, but his red eyes and nervous demeanour led to a drugs search.
Police found cocaine, digital scales and thousands of pounds in cash during searches of Anastas, his car and the address he was staying at.
The 30-year-old, from Romford in Essex, appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court to admit a single charge of being concerned in the supplying of a class A drug at Dunabban Road, Skinner Court and elsewhere.
Fiscal depute Alison Young told the court that he was stopped by police at around 4.45pm on January 19 this year, after an officer spotted that a light was not working on his vehicle at the BP filling station in Longman Road.
The policeman noted that Anastas seemed “very nervous” and had “reddening to his eyes” so detained him for a drugs search.
Dealer Antoni Anastas said he was on holiday
“On searching the vehicle they found £520 in the centre console and a digital scale with white powder within a shoulder bag in the boot,” Ms Young told the court.
Anastas was taken to Burnett Road Police Station and a further search found nine clear bags of white powder as well as £3,100 in cash.
He told officers he was on holiday in the Highlands and staying with a friend.
A search of the address found more than £5,000 in cash; £4,800 under a bedside cabinet and £320 in a purse on a TV stand.
The drugs recovered were said to have a street value of £900.
Solicitor Duncan Henderson declined to seek Anastas’ bail be continued, resulting in his client being taken to custody.
Mr Henderson said: “Ultimately there is going to be no other alternative.”
Sheriff David Harvie told Anastas: “You have pled guilty to a serious charge.”
He called for presentencing reports and Anastas was remanded in custody in the meantime.