A 20-year-old man from South Gloucestershire was arrested following a high-speed police pursuit along the M5 motorway in the early hours of Thursday morning (September 14).
Gloucestershire Police’s Roads Policing Unit were conducting patrols on the M5 at around 3am when they identified a van flagged on their systems. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle by activating their sirens and flashing lights, but the driver failed to stop and a chase ensued.
The pursuit continued along the motorway until the van exited at Junction 12, near Gloucester. During the chase, suspected drugs were thrown from the van.
The driver eventually stopped the vehicle in the Quedgeley area but immediately fled on foot. After a brief foot chase, officers detained him nearby.
Police conducted a thorough search of the area, recovering discarded bags of drugs along the pursuit route. Further examination of the van uncovered a significant quantity of drugs and banknotes.
The 20-year-old, from Emersons Green, South Gloucestershire, was arrested on suspicion of multiple offences. These include 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 while above the legal drug limit.
He remains in police custody for questioning this afternoon as investigations continue.