A £70,000 stash of stolen whisky has been recovered after police chased down a suspicious lorry on a motorway near Bradford.
West Yorkshire’s Roads Policing Unit discovered boxes of Johnny Cree whisky in the back of the vehicle following a brief pursuit on the M606.
The incident unfolded during routine drink-drive patrols on Saturday morning, with officers noting they “weren’t expecting the alcohol-related offence” whilst carrying out their duties as part of Operation Limit, the national drink and drug drive campaign.
Officers spotted the suspicious lorry during their morning patrol, which was part of Operation Limit, a nationwide campaign targeting drink and drug driving.
The whisky was found in the back of the lorry
West Yorkshire Police
When police attempted to stop the vehicle, its driver failed to comply, leading to a pursuit on the northbound M606 near Bradford.
The lorry was suspected to be cloned and had no supporting documentation, raising further concerns for the patrolling officers.
Police deployed a stinger device at 7:50am to bring the lorry to a safe stop.
Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered boxes of Johnny Cree whisky with an estimated value of £70,000, which they believe to be stolen.
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The crates of Johnny Cree found in the back of the lorry
West Yorkshire Police
The force confirmed there were no supporting documents for the cargo, adding to suspicions about its origins.Two males who were travelling in the lorry were apprehended at the scene and taken into police custody.
West Yorkshire Police issued a statement highlighting their ongoing efforts to combat criminal activity on the roads.
“West Yorkshire Police regularly carry out pro-active commercial vehicle operations to combat this and other offending on our roads, denying their use to criminals and making them safer for all,” the force said.
The operation was part of Operation Limit, a national policing campaign running from December 1 to January 1, which aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries caused by drink and drug driving.
A lorry which had earlier failed to stop for officers leading to a brief pursuit on the northbound M606
West Yorkshire Police
The northbound M606 was briefly closed as a safety measure while officers dealt with the incident.
The motorway reopened to traffic shortly after, with minimal disruption to Saturday morning travellers.
The two males arrested at the scene remain in police custody as investigations continue into the suspected stolen whisky haul.
