Man, 19, charged after £65,000 cannabis and cocaine seizure in Norwich
Norfolk police stopped Markelian Lugja, 19, on Hotblack Road in Norwich on 31 October 2026 and later found packaged cocaine and cannabis in a property on Hemming Way, which police valued at more than £65,000. He was charged with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs, remanded at Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court and is due back in court on 30 November.
🇬🇧 Hotblack Road and Hemming Way, Norwich · United Kingdom
Norfolk police officers stopped a man in his late teens on Hotblack Road, off
Dereham Road in Norwich, on the night of Saturday 31 October 2026 and arrested
him on suspicion of possession with intent to supply.[1]Officers then
searched a property on Hemming Way, another Norwich street, and found packaged
cocaine and cannabis.[1]Norwich Police estimated the street value of the
drugs at more than £65,000.[1]
Markelian Lugja, 19, of no fixed address, was charged with possession with
intent to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply Class B drugs
and possession of criminal property.[1]He appeared at Great Yarmouth
Magistrates’ Court on 2 November and was remanded in custody.[1]His next
court appearance is listed for 30 November 2026.[1]
The arrest and the search that followed came during ongoing police patrols in
the city.[1]
Photos and video
Police handout photo published with the report on the Norwich stop and search and the £65,000 seizure. Photo: Norwich PolicePhoto details
No weight was published for the cannabis or the cocaine, only a combined street value of more than £65,000, so no cannabis kilograms can be recorded and the figure cannot be split between the two substances.
The Norwich Evening News article and the Eastern Daily Press article carry the same text and byline, so they are one account rather than two independent ones; the Norfolk Constabulary statement itself could not be opened.
Neither account says how the Hemming Way property was connected to the man stopped on Hotblack Road, or whether anyone else was arrested there.
No plea has been recorded and no trial court or sentencing date was reported; the case was listed for a further hearing on 30 November 2026.
The article gives no time of day for the stop beyond 31 October; the police statement describes it as Saturday night.
The single published photo is a police handout credited to Norwich Police, with no caption describing what it depicts, and no detail about the seized drugs.
Left out, as its quotation was not found in Eastern Daily Press: In its own account of the case, Norfolk police said officers had stopped and searched the man on Hotblack Road on the Saturday night and arrested him on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs.
Left out, as its quotation was not found in Eastern Daily Press: The police account says officers took the man to Aylsham Police Investigation Centre for questioning.
Left out, as its quotation was not found in Eastern Daily Press: According to the police statement, the charges specified possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, namely cocaine, possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, namely cannabis, and possession of criminal property.
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Staffordshire Police arrested a 29-year-old Tamworth man on 5 November 2026 after stopping a red Vauxhall Astra on Glascote Road and finding he tested positive for cannabis and cocaine. Officers found cannabis, cocaine and cash in a search of the driver, seized the uninsured car, and later released him under investigation.
Gwent Police plain-clothes officers arrested a 28-year-old Newport man on Chepstow Road at about 1.20am on 5 November on suspicion of possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply. A search found suspected cocaine, cannabis, two mobile phones and cash, and he remained in custody as enquiries continued.
