A VAN driver stopped by the police on the M6 just north of Carlisle was transporting an 89kg consignment of cannabis worth just under £90,000.

The police officers who stopped the the Renault Kangoo van that was being driven by Zygimantas Viktorians near to Junction 44 on December 21 last year noticed that the driver had a fresh cut on his hand, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

In the footwell of the van police found a smashed up mobile phone. Police believe the 42-year-old defendant destroyed it to prevent them finding evidence of his involvement in the illegal cannabis trading operation.

Viktorians pleaded guilty to possessing the class B drug with intent to supply.

Prosecutor Tim Evans outlined how police stopped the defendant’s van at around 3pm, just north of Carlisle. Satnav records showed that the defendant was driving to a destination near Stranraer, having driven north from his home in London.

Mr Evans said the mobile phone was destroyed in order to destroy “incriminating” evidence. The prosecutor said: “The officers searched the van and in the rear they found 17 black bin liners; and inside those were 17 large clear vacuum packs.

“They contained cannabis – a total of 89kg of the drug. Experts said its street-level value to be £89,000.” The cannabis was further packaged into 89 one kilo packs for onward supply, the court heard. 

Police also seized other phones and £320 cash. When questioned, the defendant lied, saying he was on his way to Scotland to deliver vehicle wheels, said Mr Evans.

He also claimed to have injured his hand a few days previously and denied hurting himself while smashing the mobile phone.

Jeff Smith, defending, said the defendant had lived in the UK for nine years and generally worked as a self-employed builder. He accepted that his van had been recorded by automatic numberplate recognition cameras on two previous occasions during trips to Scotland.

But he insisted that he was not the driver on those other occasions and that he had made only the one trip -the one when he was stopped by the police. “He’s had not further involvement, other than conveying the drugs on this on this one occasion,” said Mr Smith.

“He understands that custody is inevitable.

“His primary concern is for the welfare of his wife, whom he describes as being vulnerable.”

A probable consequence of the conviction would be the defendant’s removal from the UK, said Mr Smith, adding that the defendant was aware of the consequences of drug abuse and that transporting the cannabis was wrong.

Judge Nicholas Barker said that while the defendant’s mitigation included reference to him being a “hard-working family man,”  his transporting such a large quantity of cannabis over such a distance meant he played a significant role.

He jailed Viktorians, who lives at Newham, London, for 38 months and imposed a discretionary 43 month driving ban. The judge also ordered that the £320 the defendant had with him is forfeited.