A Penrith police sergeant has vowed to continue the force’s fight against drugs after a man was jailed after he was found with cannabis worth £630,000.
On October 1 last year officers attended a one-vehicle crash involving a HGV on the A66, close to Warcop.
Officers from Eden’s community and pro-active policing team conducted initial enquiries before handing the case over to its Serious Organised Crime Unit colleagues.
Cannabis worth about £630,000 was found after officers searched the trailer.
Valerijus Petrusevas was then located and arrested in Northern Ireland by Cumbria police officers.
Petrusevas, 41, was sentenced to four years and two months imprisonment after he was charged with:
- Possession with intent to supply
- Failing to stop at a road traffic collision
- Driving without due care
Petrusevas also received a 31-month driving disqualification.
Penrith Police Sergeant Stabler said: “This has been a joint investigation with national enquiries and specialist officers involved. We will continue to disrupt and investigate offenders who travel through Cumbria carrying illegal drugs. Today’s sentence reflects the actions taken by the driver to evade police after his collision.”
