Two Birmingham men have been jailed for six years after being arrested following a police pursuit, during which they flung more than £200,000 worth of heroin from their car while dodging traffic at speeds of over 100 mph on the motorway.
West Midlands Police has released footage from the evening of 7 July, when officers from the Central Motorway Police Group tried to stop a grey Mazda 6 near junction 14 of the M6, as part of a pre-planned drugs operation.
On the evening of 7 July, officers from the Central Motorway Police Group tried to stop a grey Mazda 6 near junction 14 of the M6, as part of a pre-planned drugs operation.
But behind the wheel of the car was Paul Duckworth − aged 31 − and he had no intention of stopping for anyone, swerving between cars in the evening traffic at speeds of 120 mph.
In the passenger seat was Mohamed Kabbar − aged 25 − and as the car was pursued by officers, he threw two packages out of his window on the stretch of the M6 motorway, close to Chasewater, Cannock.
Officers − now joined by the police helicopter − tried to stop the Mazda on numerous occasions, even pulling in front of it and displaying an illuminated message in the back of their car which said “FOLLOW ME”.
After a 28-minute pursuit, the officers took the initiative at the safest possible moment to bring the vehicle to a stop by boxing it in and manoeuvring it off the carriageway.
Examination of the section of motorway where items had been seen thrown from the car revealed two large packages of heroin on the hard shoulder with a potential street value of around £230,000.
Duckworth and Kabbar were subsequently arrested and interviewed by West Midlands Police officers, later being charged with various drugs and driving offences, which they pleaded guilty to.
Kabbar, of Church Street, Lozells, was sentenced to five years in prison for possession with intent to supply heroin at Staffordshire Crown court on Thursday, 30 October.
Duckworth, of Folkestone Croft, Bromford − whose phone was examined and showed him to be a heroin addict used to transport drugs in order to pay off debts, rather than a dealer − received a 15-month sentence for heroin possession, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.
PC Nick McCullogh from Handsworth police station investigated the offences. He said: “Kabbar and Duckworth were on their way back from Rochdale, where they had collected the drugs, when they were intercepted by CMPG officers.
“They were carrying heroin destined for communities in Birmingham, which would have had a devastating impact on users, and their family and friends.
“We are satisfied with the sentences handed to Kabbar and Duckworth, which we hope deters others from drug dealing or in the case of Duckworth, from being used as a mule to transport drugs across the country.”
Disrupting the supply of drugs is a priority for the police and anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.