Northern Ireland lorry driver jailed in connection wit £3m drug seizure

A lorry driver in Northern Ireland has been jailed in connection with a £3 million drug seizure, the largest single seizure of its kind by the PSNI.

At Belfast Crown Court, Andrew Stafford pleaded guilty to possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply and possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply.

He was sentenced to a 36-month custodial sentence – half served in prison and half on licence.

The now 38-year-old was arrested in the early hours of 2nd February 2022, when detectives from the PSNI’s Organised Crime Unit stopped a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) and trailer coming off a ferry at Belfast Harbour.

Working with other agencies represented on the Organised Crime Task Force, including HM Revenue & Customs and Belfast Harbour Police, a search uncovered cocaine and cannabis with an estimated street value of £3 million.

The Class A and B drugs were concealed within a separate vehicle inside the trailer and in a hide built into the floor of the trailer.