Taxi driver found with 41kg of heroin worth £4m in his car boot jailed

A taxi driver from Liverpool who was carrying more than 40kg of heroin worth around £4m in the boot of his car has been jailed. Officers stopped 44-year-old Barry Smith on 4 September last year after tracking his Skoda Octavia on the M6 northbound between junctions 13 and 14 at Stafford. He was sentenced to 4 years 8 months at Stafford Crown Court. Smith, of Keston Walk, Halewood, pulled onto the hard shoulder at 1.20pm and was asked by officers from Central Motorways Policing Group (CMPG) if he had anything illegal in the car. He replied ‘No.’ His car was searched and officers found two large sports bags inside the boot. These contained square light-brown packs. A large amount of cash was also found next to the spare wheel. A drugs expert examined the items seized and found each block was 15 to 20cm thick and weighed in at 507 grams. The total weight was 40.5kg. Tests proved positive for heroin. Based on typical street deals being £10 for 0.1g of heroin the heroin was valued at just over £4m. Detective Constable Neil Johnson, of Staffordshire Police, said: “This is a warning to those who think they can prey on the vulnerable in our communities. “Smith was followed and stopped by our officers. He thought he could get away with moving a huge amount of heroin but he now has to reflect on that in prison.” Smith pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing and was sentenced on 12 February. The heroin will be destroyed. A further £5,600 in cash was seized.