A 20-year-old man from South Gloucestershire has been arrested following a police pursuit along the M5 motorway during which drugs were thrown from a van. Officers from the Roads Policing Unit were on patrol around 3am on September 14 when they identified a van flagged on their systems.
The officers activated their vehicle’s lights and sirens to stop the van, but the driver failed to comply and a high-speed chase ensued. The pursuit continued along the M5 before the driver exited at Junction 12 near Gloucester. It was at this point that suspected drugs were thrown from the vehicle.
The van came to a halt in the Quedgeley area, where the driver exited and attempted to flee on foot. A brief foot chase followed, ending with the arrest of the suspect nearby.
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Following the incident, Gloucestershire Police conducted thorough searches along the pursuit route, recovering discarded bags containing drugs. Officers also searched the suspect’s van, uncovering a substantial quantity of drugs and banknotes.
The 20-year-old from Emersons Green remains in police custody as investigations continue. He faces multiple charges, including dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, driving without third party insurance, driving without a licence, and driving under the influence of drugs.