Kent Police successfully cracked open a major cannabis operation after noticing a bloodstain on a shipment valued at up to £2.5 million. This crucial clue directly linked the drugs to one criminal.
On Thursday 16 May 2024, officers received a tip-off about suspicious packages stored inside a container on Formby Road, Halling. Upon investigation, they discovered 427 kilogrammes of vacuum-sealed cannabis bags, with an estimated street value between £1.5 million and £2.5 million.
Forensic analysis revealed blood on a cardboard box within the container. DNA testing matched the blood to John Small, aged 61, from Brunswick Street, Maidstone. This evidence was conclusive.
On 21 May, police spotted Small filling up his Chrysler 300 at a petrol station in Chatham. Following his arrest, officers found an additional 1 kilogramme of cannabis and £3,200 in cash inside his vehicle.
John Small pleaded guilty to charges of cannabis supply and was sentenced to four years in prison at Maidstone Crown Court on 17 July.
Detective Constable Aaron Chapman commented: “John Small was clearly part of an organised criminal network involved in the supply of cannabis on an industrial scale. The blood stain he left at the storage container, coupled with the drugs and cash found in his car, were such compelling evidence that he was left with little choice but to admit the offences he had committed.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
