[O]fficers are appealing for information after a lorry full of cannabis had been found on fire in Rochdale.
At 10.36pm on Sunday 17 December 2017, police were called by the fire service to reports that a wagon trailer was on fire on Huddersfield Road (A640) between Wicken Hall and Cherry Top Farm.
The fire was discovered after the driver of the Volvo lorry turned up at a takeaway in Shaw with serious facial injuries, reporting that he had been assaulted and his vehicle had been stolen.
A large amount of fumes were coming from the lorry and once the flames had been extinguished, and the lorry had been moved out of the road, a significant amount of cannabis was found in the trailer.
A 52-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs but has since been released without charge.
Officers are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
Detective Inspector Joanne Reid of GMP’s Rochdale Borough, said: “This is a very unusual and complex case and we still have a number of unanswered questions so I want to stress the importance of people contacting us if they know anything.
“We’re examining every piece of information that we have to establish what has exactly happened and are particularly interested in the events leading up to the robbery and how the lorry came to be on fire.”
Anyone with information should contact GMP on 0161 856 8457 quoting reference number 2110 of 17/12/17 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
