A man caught with nearly £2m in cocaine stashed in the back of his Ford Transit told police he didn't know how the drugs ended up there. Wesley Hughes, 47, was stopped by Staffordshire Police officers on the A500 in Stoke-on-Trent in February this year.
Drugs found in van
Acting on intelligence, the officers opened the back of the Wallasey man's van and started looking for drugs. Officers found a plastic bag which had 12 one-kilogramme bricks of cocaine inside. The drugs were later valued between £1.4m and £1.8m.
Despite originally saying on interview that he didn't know how the drugs ended up there, Hughes pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine. He was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on August 21. He was also ordered to pay £288 in surcharge.
Police comment
Staffordshire Police Superintendent Dan Ison said: "This conviction follows a regional organised crime unit investigation into the supply of class A drugs and demonstrates the important role we play in tackling serious and organised crime across the region.
"Officers seized cocaine with an estimated street value of £1.8m, preventing a significant quantity of drugs from reaching our communities and causing further harm."The five-year prison sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence."
Regional organised crime units will continue to use intelligence, specialist resources and collaborative working to identify and disrupt organised crime groups and bring those responsible to justice.
