26 April 2023 , 05:49
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Police stopped a car with a cracked windscreen on the M6 motorway - and uncovered more than £180,000 worth of cannabis inside.
The red Renault Kangoo was stopped by traffic officers near to the Thelwall Viaduct, Warrington, on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 17, police said.
Officers spoke to the two men inside about the damaged windscreen and then breath tested the driver - 36-year-old Derek Miller.
The drug test came back positive and police then searched the vehicle and discovered three vacuum-packed bags full of cannabis.
They weighed around 26kg, giving the drugs a street value of between £104,000 and £182,000.
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Miller and the passenger, 46-year-old Mark Lindsey, were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences.
The pair were subsequently charged with being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs and Miller and Lindsey, both of Cambusnethan, Wishaw, both pleaded guilty.
At Chester Crown Court yesterday (April 24), Miller was jailed for eight months and Lindsey was sentenced to six months in prison.
Following the sentencing, the Manchester Evening News reported Police Constable Martyn Huyton-Berry, of the Northern Area Investigation Team, said: "This is a fantastic result following a simple stop check for a cracked windscreen we’ve recovered more than £100,000 worth of Class B drugs and two men are now behind bars.
"The impact that illegal drugs have on our communities cannot be underestimated which is why we will not stop with our efforts to make Cheshire a hostile environment for criminals. I hope this result sends out a strong warning to other offenders that if you come to Cheshire to commit crime, you will be caught and you will be brought to justice."
Anyone with information about illegal drug activity in their area can report it to Cheshire Police here or report it to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.