Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has praised an officer whose instincts led to one of the biggest-ever cocaine seizures by the force.
The roads policing officer stopped a van in the Blaby area in June last year based on her intuition and the suspicious manner in which the vehicle was being driven.
The vehicle was found to contain more than 100kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of more than £8m.
Mr Matthews said the haul demonstrated the determination of local officers to fulfil his promise to restore hope, trust and confidence in local policing and crackdown on the issues that cause misery to hard-working and law-abiding residents.
Jamie Gough, 41, of Hurlingham Road, Birmingham, is now serving a 10-year jail sentence after being found guilty of possession with intent to supply class A drugs after a seven-day trial at Leicester Crown Court.
Commenting after the case, Mr Matthews said: "Thanks to this officer's intuition and the relentless efforts of the investigating team, millions of pounds worth of cocaine have been taken off the streets of Leicestershire before being sold and causing untold harm. I am proud of everyone who contributed to this outcome.
"The public rightly expects the Police to deliver strong and swift justice and as Commissioner, I have made it my personal mission to restore hope and trust in policing services. Results like this are testament to the culture of tenacity and professionalism across the force within all ranks and departments. It is no coincidence that Leicestershire Police recently earned an ‘outstanding' grade for the way it tackles Serious and Organised Crime by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Service's (HMICFRS).
"The supply of drugs brings nothing but violence and misery to our streets. This excellent result will help boost public confidence in the force's work to drive out drug dealers and reclaim our streets on behalf of hard-working people who deserve to live in safety and peace.
"Targeting drug dealers and disrupting the criminal networks that exploit vulnerable members of society is a top priority for the force. I have no doubt that more seizures of this scale will follow and I will continue to support the Chief Constable with whatever resources are necessary to keep up the good work."
