Police seize cannabis haul worth �1.5m during M11 operation
POLICE have seized cannabis worth an estimated �1.5million during a road safety campaign on the M11. Officers from Dunmow s road policing unit joined their counterparts from Chigwell to carry out Operation Minstrel, which started on Wednesday and is aimed
POLICE have seized cannabis worth an estimated �1.5million during a road safety campaign on the M11.
Officers from Dunmow's road policing unit joined their counterparts from Chigwell to carry out Operation Minstrel, which started on Wednesday and is aimed at reducing dangerous driving and accidents.
On May 20 a cannabis haul was discovered in the back of a van stopped by police near Stansted Airport.
The driver, a 33-year-old man from Belvedere, South East London, was later charged with conspiracy to supply class B drugs.
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In addition police are now taking action against 1500 drivers for various offences including careless driving, driving whilst using a mobile phone, carrying invalid documents and not using seat belts.
However, the biggest problem was speeding. Over 900 cases were recorded and drivers were consistently clocked at doing over 95mph.
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Sgt Dan Barber, of the road policing unit at Chigwell, organised the 15-day operation that will be repeated regularly on roads in West Essex.
He said: "The target is improving driving standards and road safety on the 40-mile stretch of the M11 through Essex.
"We have also been targeting travelling criminals who use the M11 to travel in an out of Essex to commit crime.
"The operation builds upon huge successes seen over the past three years in reducing collisions involving death or serious injury on Essex roads."
More than 30 cars were seized and over 460 fixed penalty notices issued, and Sgt Barber added: "The message is clear. If drivers choose to disregard road traffic law they can expect to be caught and prosecuted.
