Drug dealer hid £630,000 worth of cocaine in van stopped on M5 in Devon
33-year-old Jonathan Kenney has been jailed for nine years after being caught near Cullompton last summer
Last updated 8th May 2021
A drug dealer has been jailed after being caught with a huge stash of cocaine on the M5 in Devon.
Jonathan Kenney was stopped near Cullompton last summer.
Police say his van was made to look as if it was being used by a key worker.
However, searches uncovered £630,000 worth of narcotics hidden in a secret compartment.
Detectives described it as a "significant seizure of drugs coming into the Devon and Cornwall area".
The 33-year-old from Liverpool will serve nine years in prison after admitting possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply.
What are the details of the case?
Kenney was stopped in his van by officers from the South Devon Proactive Team on the evening of 20th August 2020.
Initial searches of the vehicle gave the impression it was entirely legitimate, with Kenney claiming to be travelling as part of his employment.
The van was recovered to Torquay Police Station for more detailed searches to take place and its interior panelling, shelving and bulkhead areas were disassembled.
It was then officers discovered a secret compartment which was electronically operated by the driver using hidden switches and a remote control device.
Seven large blocks of cocaine, with a street value of £629,190, were found inside.
Further searches at Kenney's home address in Liverpool uncovered what appeared to be a room designated for the processing of illegal drugs.
Scales, wrapping materials, an industrial press used for the processing of blocks of cocaine, as well as trace amounts of the drug, were recovered from work benches.
Kenney's DNA was recovered from the press itself.
Sentencing Kenney, Judge Rose described the amount of cocaine being transported to the Westcountry as "staggering", rendering the drug dealing operation as "truly significant".
He added that it would "inflict harm" on the communities to which it was destined.
Detective Inspector Mike Jones, said: "This van was made to look as though it was being used by a keyworker during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It had been adapted to include a 'hide', clearly intending to be used to try and prevent this large amount of drugs from being located.
"This represents a significant seizure of drugs coming into the Devon and Cornwall area".
Detective Inspector Mike Jones
Kenney admitted possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court on Friday 7th May and was sentenced to nine years in prison.