A man who was caught driving down the M1 in possession of cocaine with a street value of more than £5million in the back of his van has been jailed for 16 years.

Malcolm O’Halloran, 61, of Aycliffe Road, Borehamwood, was stopped by officers on Thursday January 19 as he was driving along the motorway through Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

The officers found 50kg of cocaine stashed in a holdall.

Mr O’Halloran was arrested and an investigation was carried out by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit.

During a search of his home three Russian guns, ammunition and £57,000 of cash was found and seized.

He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a class A drug with intent to supply, one count of possessing criminal property, three counts of possessing a prohibited firearm and illegal ammunition.

He will spend the next 16 years in prison after being sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on April 29.