Drug 'courier' caught on M54 with boot full of cannabis released after seven weeks in custody
A man who was found to have six kilos of cannabis in the boot of a Mercedes has been set free after spending seven weeks in custody.
Shrewsbury Crown Court judge Anthony Lowe said he accepted that Arnold Ramci had been acting only as a courier of the drug when he was stopped near the M54 after being spotted between junctions three and four.
The court was told that police who suspected drink-driving stopped the car by driving in front of it and slowing down. They smelled the "strong smell of cannabis from his car and him," the court was told. He provided negative test result.
The drugs were found in seven bags inside a holdall in the boot.
Ramci appeared for his sentencing hearing on Thursday (24) and followed proceedings through an Albanian language interpreter.
Since his arrest on July 5 Ramci, aged 23, he has been in custody and judge Lowe agreed that this had been sufficient punishment for the man who lives in Harrington Croft, West Bromwich.
The property, which the court heard is owned by his brother, was searched but nothing related to drug supply found.
But false identification papers were found, the court was told, and no further action was taken on that matter.
Ramci admitted possession with intent to supply cannabis on July 7. Seven bags of the drug were found in the boot of the car, along with £100 in cash and an iPhone.
