Around 60,000 canisters of nitrous oxide “laughing gas” were seized after police pulled over a car in south London.
Officers from the Met’s Territorial Support Group stopped the vehicle in Bromley on Monday afternoon after the man inside appeared to slide down in his seat as they passed.
They found 1,200 nitrous oxide canisters and balloons in the boot, sweets infused with THC (the psychoactive compound in cannabis) and £1,000 in cash.
He was arrested on suspicion of intent to supply class B drugs and psychoactive substances and possession of criminal property.
At his home officers found another 48,000 nitrous oxide bottles, with an estimated street value of £30,000, as well as products containing THC and another £1,800 in cash.
Chief Superintendent Karen Findlay said: “This is a fantastic result from proactive stop and search, and an application of good policing skills.
"The quantity of class B drugs and especially psychoactive substances that have been taken off the streets as a direct result of this stop and search is substantial.
“If it wasn’t for these officers being out patrolling and switched on to identify the subtle suspicious behaviour of the suspect, it is likely these prohibited items would have been traded on the streets of London.”
