Man jailed after drugs worth £400,000 found in van

A man had been jailed after drugs worth £400,000 were discovered in the back of a van in Stoke-on-Trent.

Dursun Guzel, 31, of Harcourt Street, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Friday (27 May) to six years and nine months in prison, after admitting possession with intent to supply heroin and cannabis and possession of criminal property.

The court heard how officers were called to Festival Close, Stoke-on-Trent, at 5pm on 14 February 2022 following reports of suspicious activity.

On arrival, officers found a blue Vauxhall Vivaro van which witnesses said had been filled with black bin bags by an unknown man.

Officers searched the van and found a quantity of cannabis in the driver’s compartment area.

In the rear of the van, officers discovered eight blocks of heroin, weighing a total of four kilos, with a street value of £400,000.

A later search of Guzel’s home address revealed £75,000 in cash, vehicle keys, designer handbags, jewellery, mobile phones and scales.

Guzel was arrested, charged and subsequently convicted of the offences prior to sentencing.

Detective Sergeant James Byrne of Staffordshire Police, said: “We rely on the community to inform us of any suspicious activity they may see in their local area, as this intelligence can often prove vital in prosecuting offenders.

“In Guzel’s case, he was seen to be brazenly piling black bags full of class A drugs into the back of a van – which directly led to officers seizing the substances and his criminal property.

“I hope the sentence in this case goes to show the work we continue to do to disrupt the supply of drugs in our communities in order to keep the public safe.”