I was arrested and strip-searched by cops who thought I was dealing weed – the truth was very different

POLICE nicked a painter and decorator they suspected of dealing weed — only to find his stash was herbal tea.

Agim Agaj, 53, says he was strip-searched and held for 15 hours after his plant leaves were spotted when his van was stopped.

Officers who thought it was marijuana held Agim on suspicion of possession with intent to supply, handcuffed him and threw him in the cells.

But it was a far cry from the drug lords of TV crime hit Narcos because the large plastic container between the front seats contained only caj mali — Albanian for mountain tea.

Agim told The Sun: “There were two policemen.

“One opened the van door and saw I had a big plastic container.

“He said to the other policeman, ‘He’s got marijuana!’

“I said, ‘That's not drugs. It’s mountain tea!’

“They didn’t listen. They just arrested me.

“The tea looks nothing like weed.

“It smells nothing like weed.

“Even a child can see what’s tea and what’s cannabis.” 

Agim was held in a cell on Saturday night in Weymouth, Dorset, and was interviewed the following day before being released without charge because there was no evidence.

He claimed officers were also sent to search his old house and a friend’s home.

Agim, who drinks the traditional Albanian tea daily, said he did not know why he was stopped and added: “I’ve never been arrested.

“It was scary.”

Dorset Police said: “A search of the vehicle was carried out and it was reported that a plastic container was located containing what appeared to be a herbal substance that officers believed may have been illegal drugs.”

The force added: “Further enquiries were carried out.

“It was confirmed that the substance in the container was not an illegal drug and the man was released without charge.”