A DRUG dealer caught with more than 10kg of herbal cannabis on the M3 has been jailed.

Kenneth Hine, 53, was stopped in a van he was driving near junction nine of the M3, for the A34 near Winchester.

When police searched the van, they found 11.5kg of herbal cannabis inside two large vacuum-sealed laundry bags.

A subsequent search of his home address found another four kilograms of cannabis, as well as scales, deal lists and snap bags.

When interviewed by police he admitted dealing cannabis within Portsmouth and that he had been apprehended when returning from purchasing the drugs in Leeds.

Hine, of Almondsbury Road, Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class B drugs at a Winchester Crown Court hearing on Wednesday.

He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and an additional three months, to run concurrently, for a separate charge of possession of cocaine which he had pleaded guilty to in May.

The drugs find was made by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU).

Detective Sergeant David Bone, from SEROCU’s investigations team, said: “Hine was stopped with a substantial amount of cannabis in his vehicle, which inevitably would have made its way onto the streets of Portsmouth.

“We use a number of tactics to apprehend criminals, and continue to work relentlessly to ensure that the south east is a hostile environment for drug dealers to attempt to operate.

"I would urge anyone who suspects that drug offences are being committed in their area to contact police on 101, or by phoning Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."