Taxi driver caught with £4 million of heroin on the M6 near Stafford
A taxi driver who was stopped on the M6 with around £4 million worth of heroin has been jailed.
Barry Smith was stopped by police with more than 40kg of heroin and more than £5,000 in cash after officers tracked his Skoda Octavia to the M6 northbound between Junction 13 and 14 at Stafford.
Smith, 44 and from Liverpool, pulled onto the hard shoulder at 1.20pm on September 4 last year and was asked by officers from Central Motorways Policing Group if he had anything illegal in the car. He replied "no".
His car was searched and officers found two large sports bags in the boot with square light-brown packs inside. A large amount of cash was also found next to the spare wheel.
A drugs expert examined the items seized and found each block was 15 to 20cm thick and weighed at 507 grams.
The total weight was 40.5kg and tests proved positive for heroin.
Based on typical street deals being £10 for 0.1g the heroin, which will now be destroyed, was valued at just over £4m.
A further £5,600 cash was seized.
Smith, of Keston Walk, Halewood, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years and eight months for possession with intent to supply heroin at Stafford Crown Court on February 12.
Detective Constable 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.”
