Man jailed after County Lines swoop at station – Preston

A 29 year old Vietnamese national has been jailed after he was caught with a suitcase containing almost £80k worth of cannabis.

 

 

Le Van Phuc, aged 29, (DOB: 18/01/1995) of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class B drugs and was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday 13 August  to eleven weeks in jail.

 

 

The court heard how on Saturday 18 April officers from British Transport Police County Lines taskforce spotted Phuc leave a train at Preston station carrying a black rucksack and wheeling a large black suitcase.

 

His behaviour raised officers suspicions and as he waited for a service to Glasgow officers approached and identified themselves to Phuc who immediately stepped away from the suitcase.

 

When asked if the suitcase was his, he immediately replied that it wasn’t.

 

When officers searched the case they found two large bin bags inside containing cannabis with a street value of almost £80k.

 

A further search found £160 in cash along with a return ticket from Glasgow to Bolton.

 

Investigating officer PC Andrew Margerison said: “Our County Lines taskforce patrols the railway the length and breadth of the country, day in day out, and can spot when something or someone doesn’t look right.

 

“We have eyes everywhere so be warned – if you plan on using the rail network to transport drugs or indulge in any form of criminality we ‘ll be waiting for you.”