A VEHICLE intercepted by police on the M6 in Sandbach was found to be carrying more than £7 million worth of drugs.

Officers from the north west motorway police group stopped the VW van southbound, close to Sandbach services, shortly after midday on Thursday, February 6, and arrested the 46-year-old driver, who is from Middlesex.

A search of the van by officers from Titan, the north west's regional organised crime unit, led to the discovery of 225 kilograms of white powder and more than 50 large packets containing cannabis.

The white powder was later tested and found to be ketamine, a Class C controlled drug.

Detectives estimate the ketamine to have a street value of £6.75 million and the cannabis to be worth in the region of £1 million.

They had been hidden among pallets of frozen food.

At around the same time, officers in Manchester arrested a 66-year-old man at a house in Salford and two men aged 21 and 31 at an industrial premises in Trafford Park.

All four men have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs and were due to be questioned today at various police stations throughout the north west.

An investigation led by Titan remains ongoing.