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A taxi driver has been jailed after he was rumbled with a £4million heroin haul on the M6.

Barry Smith, from Liverpool, was caught with a 40kg stash of Class A drugs in his boot when stopped by police last September.

Officers stopped the 44-year-old after tracking his Skoda Octavia northbound, between junctions 13 and 14 at Stafford.

He pulled onto the hard shoulder and was quizzed by officers who asked if he had anything illegal in his car.

With a boot packed with 40.5kg of heroin, lying Smith replied: "No".

(Image: Staffs Police)

But when searched, officers discovered two large Sports Direct bags - containing dozens of light-brown packs of heroin inside the boot.

A large amount of cash totalling £5,600 was found next to the spare wheel and seized.

(Image: Staffs Police)

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 and tests proved positive for heroin. The haul was then valued at just over £4million, based on typical street deals being £10 for 0.1g of heroin.

Smith pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing and was jailed on Tuesday last week (Feb 12).

He was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months at Stafford Crown Court.

(Image: Staffs Police)

The heroin will be destroyed.

Det Con 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.”