How a Routine M6 Stop Turned Into a £1.1 Million Drug Bust
Drivers pulling into Keele Services on the M6 on 17 November had no idea a major drug operation was unfolding beside them. Shortly before 1 p.m., officers from Staffordshire Police’s road crime team stopped a van at the busy motorway services and carried out checks at the scene. Inside, they discovered cocaine with an estimated street value of around £1.1 million, turning a roadside stop into a serious Class A drug case within minutes.
The driver, 35-year-old Andrew Moore from Stockport, was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cocaine. He has since been charged and remains in custody. The size of the seizure and its location on one of the UK’s key motorway routes have pushed the case into the spotlight, raising fresh questions about how drugs move along major roads and how police try to disrupt that supply.
Who Is the Driver Charged After the M6 Cocaine Seizure?
Following the discovery at Keele Services, Andrew Moore was taken into custody and later charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine. The charge relates to the drugs allegedly found in the van he was driving on the M6 in Staffordshire.
Moore appeared at Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates’ Court the next day, where magistrates confirmed the charge and decided that he should be remanded in custody rather than released on bail. The case has now been sent to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, with a hearing scheduled for 22 December. At that stage, the court will deal with the more serious stages of the case, including any plea and trial directions.
Where the Van Was Stopped and Why the Location Matters
Keele Services sits between junctions on the M6 and is one of the busiest motorway service areas in the region. It is used by commuters, families, long-distance lorry drivers and coaches travelling between the North West, the Midlands and further afield.
Motorways are a natural route for people moving goods around the country, and that includes criminal activity. A single stop at a services can be a useful point for officers to check vehicles without bringing an entire stretch of motorway to a halt. While many motorway stops are routine, some operations are planned, with specialist teams monitoring vehicles and traffic patterns as part of wider efforts to disrupt drug supply.
The discovery of such a large amount of cocaine at a popular service area underlines how close serious criminal activity can be to everyday life, even in places most people see as a quick coffee or fuel stop.
How the Law Deals With Large Class A Drug Cases
What Prosecutors Must Prove
In cases involving possession with intent to supply a Class A drug such as cocaine, prosecutors generally need to show two key things:
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That the substance recovered is a controlled drug (confirmed by forensic testing).
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That the defendant intended to supply that drug to others, rather than simply possess it.
Evidence that can point to intent to supply may include the quantity of drugs found, the way they are packaged, any equipment linked to dealing, and other material gathered by officers during the investigation. The final decision about guilt or innocence rests with the court, based on the evidence presented.
What Remand in Custody Actually Means
When a defendant is remanded in custody, they are kept in prison while their case moves through the courts. This usually happens after a magistrates’ court decides that bail is not appropriate, for example because of the seriousness of the charge or other legal factors the court has to consider.
Once the case reaches the Crown Court, judges can review bail again, set a timetable for the case and deal with the key stages such as plea hearings and, if needed, a trial. Throughout the process, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until a court finds otherwise.
What Happens Next in Court?
With Moore’s case now listed at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court for 22 December, the next hearing will be a crucial step. The court will deal with the outstanding legal formalities, including confirming the charge, noting any plea and setting out the timetable for future hearings or a possible trial.
If the case goes to trial, a jury would hear the evidence surrounding the M6 stop, the seizure at Keele Services and any further investigation carried out by Staffordshire Police. The jury would then decide whether the prosecution has proved the charge beyond reasonable doubt. Until that point, the case remains an allegation and the legal process continues.
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FAQs About the M6 Cocaine Seizure
How much cocaine was seized on the M6?
Police recovered cocaine with an estimated street value of about £1.1 million from a van stopped at Keele Services on the M6 in Staffordshire.
When and where did the police stop the van?
The van was stopped by officers from Staffordshire Police’s road crime team at Keele Services on the M6 shortly before 1 p.m. on 17 November.
What charge is Andrew Moore facing?
Andrew Moore, 35, from Stockport, has been charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine, a serious Class A drug offence under UK law.
When is the next court date in this case?
The case has been sent to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, where Moore is due to appear on 22 December as the legal proceedings continue.
