Taxi driver caught with a £4M in heroin stuffed into Sports Direct bags in his boothttps://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... n-15853787/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-expressandstar-mna.s3.amazonaws.com/public/47O7H4MWN5FQXIBEN67CE6W7VQ.jpg)
Image: Express & Star/Staffs PoliceBarry Smith was locked up after police stopped the Halewood man on the M6 motorway and seized the Class A drugs and cashA taxi driver was caught carrying more than 40kg of heroin, worth a staggering £4m, when police stopped him on the motorway.
Barry Smith was pulled over by police on the M6, in September 2018, after they had tracking his Skoda Octavia on the M6 northbound, between junctions 13 and 14 at Stafford.
The 44-year-old's vehicle was searched, and in the boot offices found the massive haul of heroin, all packed up in Sports Direct carrier bags.
Smith, of Keston Walk in Halewood, admitted possession of heroin with intent to supply.
The Knowsley man was jailed for four years and eight months at Stafford Crown Court.
It was heard how Smith pulled onto the hard shoulder at 1.20pm and was asked by officers from Central Motorways Policing Group (CMPG) if he had anything illegal in the car.
He replied "No."
His car was searched and officers found two large sports bags inside the boot.
These contained square light-brown packs.
A large amount of cash was also found next to the spare wheel.
That totalled £5,600 in banknotes.
A drugs expert examined the items seized and found each block was 15 to 20cm thick, and weighed in at 507g.
The total weight was 40.5kg.
Tests proved positive for heroin.
Based on typical street deals being £10 for 0.1g of heroin, the Class A drug was valued at just over £4m.
DC Neil Johnson, of Staffordshire Police, said: “This is a warning to those who think they can prey on the vulnerable in our communities.
“Smith was followed and stopped by our officers.
"He thought he could get away with moving a huge amount of heroin but he now has to reflect on that in prison.”
The heroin will be destroyed.
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