Drugs criminals are being warned that Cumbria is not a “soft touch” for their illicit trade.

A senior detective issued the warning after a string of drug-busting successes on the M6, with officers intercepting two motorway couriers – one carrying cannabis and amphetamine worth nearly £720,000.

Another was caught in Carlisle, with cocaine worth several thousand pounds hidden in his clothes.

Both are now behind bars.

At Carlisle Crown Court, the courier with the highest value drugs haul – 51-year-old trucker John Read, of Garstang, Liverpool – was jailed for three years.

Meanwhile, at Carlisle’s Rickergate Magistrates’ Court, Aaron James Green, 27, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply. He was caught in the city with 246g of the class A drug. His and Read’s case are not connected.

In yet another case, also unconnected, a 34-year-old Liverpool man was arrested and then released under investigation after police seized “a significant” quantity of cocaine from a car that was stopped in Carlisle last Thursday.

Reacting to the three cases, Detective Sergeant David Howard said: “The results from court send out a clear message to criminals and criminal groups outside the county that Cumbria is no soft touch.

“If they choose to commit crime in Cumbria they will be targeted by our officers.

“We will not tolerate county lines drug crime in this county.

“We will continue to focus on drugs criminals and we will look to prosecute those involved that make the lives of so many a misery.”

County lines is a term used to describe drugs gangs who peddle drugs from urban to suburban or rural areas.

Detective Sergeant Howard added: “Intelligence from our communities is key to helping us keep Cumbria safe. I would encourage anyone who knows anything about drugs offending or has any concerns to come forward and speak to us, either directly – or anonymously through Crimestoppers.”

At Carlisle Crown Court, Judge Peter Davies was told how Read’s Vauxhall car was pulled over by police on the M6 near the city’s Garland’s estate because it was uninsured.

After telling him that his car would be seized, the police officers asked Read if there was anything they should know about inside the vehicle.

He responded by telling them to look in the boot – where they found a huge consignment of class B drugs: 23.8 kilograms of cannabis, worth £119,000; and 60 kilograms of amphetamine, worth £600,000.

In court, Read admitted possessing both drugs with intent to supply.

The defendant’s defence bar

rister Kim Whittlestone said Read had accumulated debts from bank loans and credit cards as well as council tax and water rates.

In 2015, said the barrister, he had suffered the tragic loss of his son.

After moving to Liverpool, he fell into drinking and gambling.

“As a result of that,” said Mrs Whittlestone, “he found himself associating with those who offered him a way out of some of his debt, by carrying out the role of courier. He was going to be paid £1000.”

The barrister said the offence was a “one off” for Read, a man of previous good character. Passing sentence, Judge Davies described Read’s amphetamine consignment as “colossal”.

“You must have been aware of the scale [of the consignment] because of the amount of drugs visible in your car and the fact that you were going to be paid £1,000... You knew what you were doing.”

The judge acknowledged Read had suffered a personal tragedy – the death of his son.

“It was a deeply traumatic loss and it must have had a significant impact on your life and your view of life,” said Judge Davies.

But he noted that the defendant had taken on a trusted and essential role in the drug supply operation.

Carlisle’s Rickergate Magistrates Court heard that Aaron Green had five previous drug offences on his criminal record – including one for supplying cocaine and heroin, for which he was given a four year jail term.

Magistrates sent the case to Carlisle Crown Court for a hearing on October 19.