Drugs worth £2m found in van destined for Northern Ireland

Officers discovered the cannabis and cocaine with an estimated street value of £2 million in the back of a Renault van in the Walsall area.

A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs and was later bailed for further inquiries to be carried out.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) organised crime unit says it is now working with West Midlands Police to investigate what it believes was the “attempted importation of a substantial amount of Class A and B drugs from England to Northern Ireland”.

PSNI Detective Inspector Sweeney said: “West Midlands Police local response officers were called last Thursday (July 6) to the report of a suspicious van in the Walsall area.

“Officers attended and gained entry to the van in which they found suspected cannabis and cocaine with an approximate street value of £2 million.

“We believe that this significant quantity of drugs was destined to arrive in Northern Ireland, and would then likely have been distributed and sold in local communities here.

“The organised crime gangs involved in this activity profit hugely from the sale of these harmful drugs and have no care for the destruction and harm they cause to people’s lives.

“We will continue every effort to disrupt this criminality, working with other UK and international policing teams to do so.”

Det Insp Sweeney said inquiries were ongoing and is appealing to anyone with any information to contact police

Detective Sergeant Barry Heal, from the West Midlands Police Major Crime Unit Proactive Team, said: “This was a substantial amount of Class A and B drugs we have taken off the streets. We would urge people who may have information to contact us.”