Northern Ireland Man Jailed for £2m Cannabis Haul in Lorry's Secret Compartment

A Northern Ireland man, Kirk Hackett, 30, from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, was caught with a £2 million cannabis haul hidden in a secret compartment of a lorry he was driving. Smuggling Operation Unveiled

The National Crime Agency revealed that Hackett, a member of an organized crime group, was pretending to be a lorry driver transporting the drugs from England to Northern Ireland. He was apprehended by South Yorkshire Police after NCA officers discovered the illicit cargo concealed in a coil well in the trailer unit. Sophisticated Concealment Method

Authorities found 70 large bags of cannabis weighing a kilo each, with an estimated street value of £2.1 million. Hackett used false number plates and documents to lower the risk of interception and had gone as far as organizing a decoy load of animal feed. Sentenced to Prison

Following his arrest on charges of possession with intent to supply a Class B drug, Hackett pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. NCA Branch Commander David Cunningham emphasized the disruption of the criminal activities of this gang and vowed to continue the fight against organized crime. Protecting Communities

The NCA's relentless pursuit of these criminal networks aims to safeguard society from the devastating impacts of drug trafficking and related crimes.