A court has heard how police seized almost £250,000-worth of cannabis after a car was stopped on the M6 near Tebay.
When Hoang Khanh, a 32-year-old Vietnamese national, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court in December, he pleaded not guilty to one charge. This alleges the possession of class B controlled drug cannabis with intent to supply.
But when Khanh made another appearance at the crown court today, remotely over a video link from custody, he changed his plea to guilty.
Khanh was the front seat passenger of a black Mercedes A-class vehicle which was stopped by police as it travelled northbound on the M6 close to Tebay at around 2.30pm on November 10 last year.
Khanh’s barrister, Judith McCullough, said his guilty plea was entered on a formal basis. This, the court heard, stated that he played a lesser role in the crime and his offending was limited to just one journey.
Around 23-and-a-half kilos of cannabis was found inside the car.
The judge at today’s hearing, Recorder Paul Hodgkinson, observed that it was potentially worth around £235,000.
Ms McCullough told the court: “The defendant’s wish is to return as quickly as possible to Vietnam.”
Recorder Hodgkinson adjourned the case, and ruled that Khan, of no fixed address, would be sentenced at the crown court on a future date.
In the meantime, the defendant was remanded in custody, having been remanded since Decembe
