An Albanian man trafficked to the UK illegally was caught transporting cannabis worth up to £42,500 around Tyneside.
Pjerin Lleshi was behind the wheel of a black Audi on Ponteland Road, Newcastle, at 8.40pm on July 3 this year. The car flagged up on a police system as having links to criminal offences so officers pulled it over.
Lleshi got out of the driver's side and tried to run off but was caught after a foot chase. In the boot of the car, officers found two large bags for life, which contained several big vacuum packs of cannabis and a Nokia phone. When he was arrested, Lleshi said: "I was only driving".
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When the drugs were examined they were found to weigh 9 kilos, worth between £29,750 and £42,500. A police drugs expert said the quantity of drugs indicted they would be on their way to be broken down for "street level dealers" to sell on in smaller quantities.
Lleshi, 20, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply and was jailed for seven-and-a-half months at Newcastle Crown Court. Due to the time he has served on remand, he will be released immediately.
Recorder David Kelly told him: "You are an Albanian citizen and you entered the UK illegally for the purposes of doing legitimate work, not criminal in nature.
"You were doing this purely for financial gain, £400, which was a significant amount. I suspect you thought it was significant too, otherwise you would not have taken the risk of transporting drugs."
Brian Mark, defending, said he was paid £300 to £400 to drive the car from A to B after coming to the UK. He added: "He didn't see the bags, he didn't know how much cannabis was there. He had no idea there was 9 kilogrammes.
"He was a gofer to take the risk. He was quite shocked when I explained the volume.
"Having been trafficked to the UK he was told 'do you need some money well go and see 'Smithy''. He has done five months in custody and is likely to leave the UK."
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