Man admits drug offences after officers seize 30kg drugs haul worth around £3m

 

A man has pleaded guilty to drug offences after major and organised crime officers caught him with a 30kg haul of class A drugs worth around £3m in Staffordshire.

Stephen Lockley, 39, from Liverpool, admitted possession with intent to supply heroin and cocaine at Stafford Crown Court on Friday (23 August).

Officers from the Regional and Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) stopped a white transit van at Norton Canes Services on the M6 Toll, just after 1pm, on Tuesday 23 July this year.

They found 24kg of heroin, with an estimated street value of £2.4m, and 5kg of cocaine, believed to worth £500,000, inside.

Detective Inspector David Simpson, who investigated, said: “We welcome this admission of guilt as Lockley was involved in a significant level of drug supply within our communities.

“This is a positive result for the team and illustrates how we are determined to identify dealers who bring harmful substances into circulation, gather evidence and put them before the courts.”

Lockley was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday October 3.

We’re continuing to proactively target serious and organised crime across Staffordshire, working with ROCU as part of Operation Target.

More than 1,000 people have been arrested on suspicion of drug and weapon offences in the county since the crackdown was launched last May.