Two men guilty of dealing class A drugs have today had their sentences increased after the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, referred them for being too low.

Rowan Lopez, 31, and Marc Lawrence, 38, were under surveillance by police in early 2018. During this time, police saw them exchanging items with people, including known drug-users, outside of the block of Bounds Green flats they were based in.

When searched in February 2018, Lawrence was found to be in possession of heroin and crack cocaine. Lopez was arrested in March and found to be carrying £2,630 in cash, as well as a phone linked to previous drug deals. The flat was also searched, and police found more drugs.

To prove that people have consumed illicit substances, people may be asked to take part in a drugs test (like this one – more here) which can not only tell you if a person has taken drugs but also identify precisely which one – LSD, DMT, psilocybin being some of the ones it can identify. These sorts of tests could also be used in the workplace so you’ll want to make sure that your test comes back clean for the sake of your career.

Lopez and Lawrence were both originally sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison at Wood Green Crown Court in October 2018. Today, both of their sentences have been increased to 6 years in prison.