A man has been jailed for four years after being snared by North Yorkshire Police while attempting to supply cocaine in York.
22-year-old Lewis Christopher Stewart, of Carr Manor Parade in Leeds, was sentenced at York Crown Court yesterday (10 April) having pleaded guilty to the offences.
These included possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of criminal cash, some of which was in the form of gold bullion.
Some of the haul had been secreted within the body work of a blue VW Caddy van that Stewart had been driving to York on the evening of Sunday 26 January 2025.
Little did he know, his every move was being monitored by North Yorkshire Police.
Officers from the Operational Support Unity (OSU) were in place to bring the vehicle to a safe stop on the A64, just before 7:30pm.
A detailed search of the van uncovered the Class-A drugs, cash and gold.
Stewart was then arrested and taken into custody for questioning.
Officers also recovered £35,000 from a safe in an address linked to Stewart.
It’s estimated he made a further £20,000 from dealing drugs.
Detective Constable Dean Stilgoe, from North Yorkshire Police, said:
“We welcome the sentence handed out at court which reflects the serious harm and misery that drug dealers like Lewis Stewart cause within our communities.
“North Yorkshire Police relentlessly pursues the transportation of drugs right across our area and over the borders. We use a variety of tactics to put a halt to offenders and bring them to justice.”
Officers have urged anyone with any information about suspected drug-related crime to make a report via the North Yorkshire Police website or by calling 101 and speaking to the Force Control Room.
Always dial 999 if an emergency response is required.
If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or make a report online.