A Pokémon-obsessed drug dealer went to great lengths to expand his collection and allegedly exchanged drugs for prized trading cards, according to police.
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Kent Police accuse Jack Young-Larter, of Maidstone, of requesting that a substance abuser pay off his debt with Pokémon cards.
Before the unorthodox transaction was complete, however, police raided his London Road home on Friday, May 1, during their investigation into the supply of cocaine and cannabis in the town, local outlets reported.
During the raid, officers seized two mobile phones, nearly 110 grams of cannabis and more than 25 grams of cocaine, alongside scales and empty deal bags.
Authorities also discovered roughly $2600 in cash inside the home. Plus, a box full of rare collectible cards allegedly worth even more. Kent Police did not specify how much the card collection was worth. However, the agency stated that it is "considered to be of high monetary value."
These items are now subject to a Deprivation Order, ensuring the items will not be returned.
Kent Police confirmed that Young-Larter was accepting cash, bank transfers and, oddly, Pokémon trading cards as payment.
Man Pleads Guilty to Exchanging Drugs For Pokémon Cards
He was charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine and being concerned in the supply of cannabis. Young-Larter was also charged with possession of criminal property, namely the cash and trading cards.
The 26-year-old drug dealer pleaded guilty to all counts and appeared before Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday, September 17, to be sentenced, KentOnline.co.uk reported.
"Young-Larter is rightly serving time behind bars for selfishly taking advantage of vulnerable members of the Maidstone community for his own financial gain," said the investigating officer, Detective Constable Emily Hill.
"He attempted to mitigate his crime at court, claiming family commitments should be taken into account. The judge refused to accept this as reasonable argument and expressed his family must be so disappointed in him."
Hill concluded with a strong warning to drug dealers in the area by quoting the famous Japanese anime.
"Trading Pokémon cards is a fun activity for all ages. But substances are dangerous. They destroy communities. In the worst cases, they leave friends and families bereft. "So, when it comes to those dealing drugs on Kent's streets. Our officers are on a mission to catch them all."
