Jail for lorry driver caught on A1 near Doncaster with £2m in smuggled cannabis
The 30 year old from Northern Ireland will serve three years nine months behind bars.
A man caught with around £2m worth of cannabis hidden in a compartment in the back of his lorry has been jailed.
30 year old Kirk Hackett, of Dungannon, was part of an organised crime group conspiring to move large quantities to the Class B drug between England and Northern Ireland.
He was stopped on the A1 near Doncaster on May 3 last year, with 70 large bags of cannabis being found in his vehicle.
It's estimated they had a street value of £2.1m.
It's believed the drugs were collected in Sheffield, with Hackett on his way to pick up a cargo of animal feed which would be used to conceal the illegal haul.
His lorry was also using false registration plates and a false insurance certificate.
Hackett was handed a three year nine month sentence for possession with intent to supply a Class B drug at Sheffield Crown Court today (April 10).
National Crime Agency Branch Commander David Cunningham said: "Kirk Hackett was a trusted member of this organised crime group profiting from smuggling drugs that would have ended up on the streets of Northern Ireland.
"He went to great lengths in his attempts to avoid detection, disguising the vehicle and organising a cover load of animal feed.
"However, thanks to the work of our investigators, and partners at South Yorkshire Police, we have disrupted the activities of this OCG denying them the profits which would be used to commit further acts of serious and organised crime.
"The NCA will continue to pursue these gangs who prey on our communities and cause harm to society."