A man and woman were jailed today for a total of 10 years and eight months after a vast quantities of substances commonly used in the production of heroin and cocaine were found in their car.

Cumbria police officers stopped Alex Hardie, 53, of Bents Road, Baillieston, Glasgow, and Amanda Thomson, 37, of Shettleston Road, Glasgow, in the BMW in Carlisle.

Hardie, who was driving, claimed the pair had been to Blackpool but his behaviour caused officers to become suspicious and they searched the car.

The officers found about 50kg of Benzocaine – a drug commonly used as a cocaine bulking agent by drug suppliers. They also found a further 50kg of a substance which was a mixture of caffeine and paracetamol – substances commonly used as heroin bulking agents.

The substances were found inside a number of barrels and bags being transported in the car.

When asked what was in the barrel, Hardie replied: “It’s something to do with drugs.”

The amounts of Benzocaine, caffeine and paracetamol could have been used in the production and had the potential to produce 50kg of cocaine and 50kg of heroin.

As each kilo of heroin has the potential value of £50,000 to £100,000 and the cocaine at least £40,000 per kilo, the pair had substances worth between £7million and £7.5million in the car.

In his police interview, Hardie refused to give any comment to the questions asked of him.

Thomson supplied a statement in which she denied any knowledge of the substances being in the car or any involvement in drug supply but refused to answer any questions.

Both Hardie and Thomson denied a charge of being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine but pleaded guilty at court.

Detective Constable David Hetherington said: “This was a vast quantity of substances which we know are used as bulking agents for cocaine and heroin in order that the dealers can increase their profits.

“Hardie and Thomson were caught and these items taken away due to good police work. The officers who stopped the BMW acted on their suspicions swiftly and their efforts has led to Hardie and Thomson being jailed.”

Hardie was jailed for six years and eight months and Thomson received a four-year jail sentence at Carlisle Crown Court today.