William O'Brien caught with £2.5m cannabis haul on M74
A man is facing a prison term after he was caught with 2,920 bars of cannabis resin potentially worth £2.5m.
William O'Brien, from Springboig, Glasgow, had the drug in a minibus he was driving on the M74 near Hamilton Services on 13 December 2011.
The 31-year-old admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis during an appearance at the High Court in Glasgow.
Judge Lady Stacey deferred sentencing and remanded O'Brien in custody.
The court heard that police, acting on a tip-off, ordered the minibus to pull over on the northbound M74 at about 18:30.
Boxes of drugs
O'Brien was driving and two other men were sitting in the back of the vehicle.
Prosecutor Paul Kearney said officers spotted several red cardboard boxes inside.
He added: "These were positioned between the various rows of seats and along the length of the floor from the passenger side to the rear doors."
O'Brien later gave no comment when asked if there were drugs inside the vehicle.
A large quantity of cannabis resin was eventually discovered weighing a total of 292 kilos.