A logbook with alleged fake entries isn’t the only thing Maine state troopers found in a truck and trailer from Texas last week.

A routine inspection also reportedly resulted in the seizure of more than $1 million in cash.

(Photo courtesy of Maine State Police)

Maine State Police found more than $1 million in cash after pulling over a tractor-trailer from Texas last week.

On Friday, Sept. 3, a member of the Main State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit was conducting a routine inspection of a truck and trailer on the Maine Turnpike in York, ME. After finding the truck’s driver and a passenger to have false logbook entries, the trooper searched the trailer and estimated he found more than $1 million, said Stephen McCausland, a spokesman for the Maine Public Safety Department.

The truck and trailer were registered in Texas.

Since last week’s seizure, Maine State Police have called in other federal and state agencies to investigate the case further.

“The money is being counted at a bank today,” McCausland told Land Line Wednesday, Sept. 8. “Our goal is to find out where the money came from and where it was headed.”

McCausland said criminals have increasingly turned to smuggling bulk currency in recent years as a way to move illicit drug proceeds across national borders. It is illegal to smuggle or attempt to smuggle more than $10,000 in or out of the U.S.

The truck’s driver, Jhon Rivera-Ramirez, 35, and passenger Jose Javier Perez, 46, were detained at the time for being in possession of false logbooks. Rivera-Ramirez was charged for the logbook violations.

Perez wasn’t charged as of Wednesday morning, McCausland said.

Plans to get tough on litter lout motorists are being backed by Cheshire East Council.

A change in the law could bring littering offences in line with speeding and fly-tipping, with town councils taking action against registered owners of the vehicles – even if no one will admit to it.

As it stands, if a case is reported and the owner of the vehicle denies the offence, councils must prove it in court and the fines are often dropped.

Councillor Rod Menlove, cabinet member for environmental services, said: “We see no reason why council taxpayers money should end up footing the bill for clearing up after these lazy and anti-social litter louts.

“Our roads are blighted with takeaway wrappers, empty bottles and cigarette ends but councils are hamstrung when it comes to taking action against thoughtless motorists who drop rubbish.

“As well as being unsightly, road litter is costly and difficult and dangerous to remove, as it puts our clean up staff at risk from oncoming traffic.”

Bernice Walmsley, Chairman of Middlewich Pride and a volunteer member of Middlewich Clean Team, said she welcome change to deter motorists from littering the roadside.

She said: “It is a problem in Middlewich.

“If you walk down Finney’s Lane you will always see fast food litter, which must have come from people in cars because there are no fast food outlets for miles.

“What’s wrong with just leaving the rubbish on your car seat until you get home or find a bin?

“The fact that Middlewich is relatively clear of litter is a deterrent in itself but when there is litter on the street people will just drop more.”

Cheshire East Council spent £2.8 million on street cleaning in its first financial year, which includes mechanical sweeping, manual litter picking and the removal of fly-tipping.

“At a time when the council has to provide vital services to residents on increasingly tight budgets, this is an expense we can ill-afford.

“Being able to crack down on this problem will mean more money will be available to plough into frontline services like care for the elderly, protecting vulnerable children, repairing roads and keeping our streets safe.”

According to a Keep Britain Tidy survey: •Roads and verges are some of the most littered parts of the country. •22 per cent of lorry drivers and 20 per cent of all mortorists admitted to throwing rubbish from their vehicles in the previous six months. •Councils in England spend up to £858 million a year on cleaning the roads and streets. •More than 100 councils want a change in the law.

Source: Middlewich Guardian

A SUSPECTED illegal immigrant may be on the run today after jumping from the back of a lorry near the A1.

Police launched a major search after receiving a tip-off from a member of the public yesterday afternoon.

The witness reported spotting seven men leaping from a lorry at the gate of a factory near Washington Services and fleeing.

Officers arrested six suspects and continued the search in a bid to round up the seventh man.

The incident happened on the Crowther Industrial Estate around 3.30pm. Police say the six were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said today: “They remain in custody and will be interviewed by the Immigration Service.

“Inquiries are ongoing to establish whether a seventh person is still out there.”

Police are not disclosing further details about the incident.

Immigration officers will today quiz those arrested to build up a picture of events leading to their fleeing from the truck.

They will be trying to establish where they smuggled themselves on board the vehicle.

It is understood the truck was seized for examination for evidence.

Immigrants are continuing to get into the UK hidden in lorries, despite major efforts by the authorities.

And drivers are struggling to prevent stowaways.

The Serious Organised Crime Agency has produced a leaflet for lorry drivers in a bid to prevent freight crime and illegal immigrants.

It is aimed at drivers transporting freight to and from the UK and makes them aware of the threats they face from illegal immigrants while traveling in the UK.

In June a gang of four African stowaways plotting a new life in Britain were discovered hiding among machine parts destined for a North East factory.

Officers with the UK Border Agency foiled the attempt by the four to sneak into the region. The Eritreans were caught hiding in the haul of machine parts heading to County Durham.

It wasn’t known when the four boarded the lorry but they were caught by border agency officers when it rolled into Calais.

After spotting the lorry’s trailer had been tampered with, officers stopped and inspected the Italian-registered vehicle.

A body detection dog was let loose on the trailer and indicated there were people hiding inside the load destined for the North West Industrial Estate in Peterlee, County Durham.

Source: Chronicle Live

The robbery took place in the early hours of Saturday morning with the knife- armed criminals attacking the night watchman at the premises on an industrial estate in Clayton Road, Birchwood, Warrington, before apparently making off with trailers from the site. The security guard was taken to hospital but not seriously injured.

Due to the very large amounts of vodka stolen, which includes the brands for Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Co-operative, Royal Czar, Imperial and Moskova Vodka - all in 1.5 or 1 litre bottles – the police hope that they may gain a lead from anyone spotting the stolen trailers.

 All five are curtainsiders missing from the scene and descriptions can be found here.

Anyone with information on this can contact Cheshire Police on 0845 458 0000 or alternatively information can be left on the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

LONDON, August 25, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Hauliers, fleet management, and independent drivers of large vehicles can now experience true cost-saving advantages by using the new ProNav PNN300, incorporating the new ProNav Dimension(TM) software. The first HGV navigation system to incorporate London 'Lorry Ban' road data, the PNN300 will help operators keep to permitted roads, and with UK wide historic HGV traffic data, will provide more accurate journey times and estimated times of arrival, ensuring drivers don't miss delivery windows or over-run on their driver hours.

Currently getting caught on an excluded road at restricted times in London can be an expensive business, with fines of up to GBP550 for hauliers and GBP120 for drivers. The ProNav PNN300 is the first navigation system to incorporate time-based restriction data, providing vehicle specific routes avoiding the overnight or weekend HGV restrictions, also offering preferred routing and re-routing for the 'Lorry Ban' roads (Excluded Route Network - ERN). Such critical route data will help keep HGV's on the permitted roads when travelling around London, making sure hauliers and drivers avoid those heavy penalties for route contraventions.

The ProNav PNN300 also incorporates another truck navigation 'market first' which is its 'Dynamic ETA(TM)' feature. Historically truck navigation systems have provided relatively inaccurate, unreliable journey times for delivery estimated times of arrival (ETAs). Using historic traffic information sourced from real-time floating vehicle data, the PNN300 can analyse the day and time of travel and calculate an accurate ETA based on actual HGV traffic speeds at that time. For example, a journey on the M25 during Monday morning's rush hour will provide a much longer ETA than exactly the same journey conducted during lunchtime. For the first time, this service will provide drivers with reliable, mission critical journey time information to hit delivery windows and plan journeys to fit better around their time on the road.

Unique ProNav PNN300 features include:

Other ProNav Dimension(TM) software features include hazard warnings for steep hills, crosswinds, risk of grounding and sharp bends; text to speech that provides clear voice instructions including local road names; and audible and visual warnings of fixed safety cameras. The PNN300 also features a new slim-line hardware design, with a large 5 inch touch screen, Bluetooth hands-free and an FM transmitter making turn-by-turn voice instructions clearly audible on the vehicle's in-cab radio.

"Working closely with hauliers and drivers, we have identified and developed unique features that really make a difference to fleets whilst out on the road", said Navevo Marketing Director David Guiver. "With innovative features such as Dynamic ETA(TM) and ERN routing we believe we are setting a new standard for the HGV navigation industry and helping make deliveries more time and cost efficient, as well as helping the haulage industry avoid costly fines from falling foul of time-specific road regulations."

With a suggested retail price of GBP249.99 incl. VAT, the ProNav PNN300 will be available around the end of August via the Road Haulage Association's online shop, PIE (Public Information Exchange), Fonebitz stores located at over 32 motorway service stations across the country, and through local TTC distributors in UK and Ireland (for more information on local TTC distributors call (01865-383999).

Additionally, Navevo have updated the current PNN200 unit with the new ProNav Dimension(TM) software. This new PNN220 unit will also be on sale at the end of August have a suggested retail price of GBP199.99 incl. VAT.

Press

The number of people speeding increased in a county where speed cameras were deactivated.

Oxfordshire's speed cameras were switched off because of budget cuts, but radar equipment was left in some locations.

Readings taken over five days found the number of drivers speeding increased by up to 88%, a rise described by Thames Valley's Safer Road Partnership as potentially "very worrying".

The radar units were set to record speeds of over 35mph in 30mph zones, though there is no longer a camera in the box to record the motorist's details.

The partnership recorded readings from two sites, with one on Oxford's Watlington Road detecting 62 offences - a rise of 88% compared to the 33 offences they expected to see there over five days.

A speed camera on the A44 in Woodstock detected 110 offences, where 93 offences would have been expected when compared with past data - a rise of 18.3%.

Dan Campsall, of the partnership, said: "These are very limited results from just two locations and a few days worth of data. However, if this is a trend that grows across Oxfordshire it is very worrying indeed.

"Evidence shows that just small changes in speed can significantly affect the risk of road users and the severity of crashes. A rapid increase in speeds across a whole county could mean many more road casualties."

Cameras in Oxfordshire were deactivated at the end of July when the county council withdrew £600,000 in funding.

Insp Paul Winks, from Thames Valley Police, told BBC Online: "It clearly means switching off the camera has given a green light to a small number of people to break the law.

"The consequence is more death and more death is unacceptable."

Source: The Independent

A lorry driver has been arrested following a crash in which a woman died.

The 44-year-old man, from Halifax, was released on police bail pending further inquiries.

He was driving an HGV which was in collision with a Ford Focus, in Halifax Road, near Cullingworth, on Tuesday afternoon last week .

The 58-year-old driver of the Focus — Sue Jones, from Greetland — was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary where she died from her injuries.

A third vehicle, a Mercedes Sprinter van, was damaged in the incident when the lorry shed its load.

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash, which happened close to Flappit quarry, at about 2pm, to contact DC3083 Burgin on 0845 6060606.

Source: Keighley News

David Crombie required surgery after being diagnosed with cancer

A lorry driver has urged other people to take the chance of screening themselves for bowel cancer.

David Crombie, 53, from Alness, was treated for early stage bowel cancer after using a test kit sent to his home.

He had thought of putting off testing, but went ahead with it after reading that the kit improved chances of surviving cancer.

Men and women aged 50 to 74 can take a test every two years.

Kits are sent to peoples' homes, together with an instruction leaflet.

Once completed, they can be returned for analysis in the pre-paid envelope provided.

Mr Crombie's test kit arrived shortly after his birthday in January.

He said: "About two weeks before the kit arrived I'd read a story in a newspaper and it said that the kit helped to diagnose the disease early and this gave people a much better chance of survival.

"I'm a typical man and might have put it off if it wasn't for that story but it sounded like common sense to me so I just did it."

Mr Crombie was treated in surgery.

NHS Highland's bowel screening coordinator, Dr Rob Henderson, said he was grateful to Mr Crombie for telling his story.

He added: "It demonstrates just how important is it that people take part in bowel screening."

Source: BBC NEWS

A LORRY driver who stashed drugs with a street value of more than £1 million in the back of his HGV has been jailed.

Drugs mule Stephen Toner was arrested when 150,000 pills and 70kg (152lbs) of cannabis were found hidden inside his lorry at Ferryfast Produce in Pershore.

Workers were loading apples into the trailer when a stash of pills came loose from the roof space on Wednesday, August 4.

It is believed to be the biggest drugs haul ever discovered in Worcestershire.

Toner, of Clougharevan Park in Newry, Northern Ireland, admitted possession with intent to supply Class A and Class C drugs.

At Worcester Crown Court yesterday Judge Patrick Thomas jailed the 27-year-old for nine years.

He also took away his driving license for six years.

He told Toner: “You deliberately involved yourself in a serious crime. The reward you were going to get was very substantial, if only a fraction of what the drugs were worth, and you’ve said that you were prepared to do it again and again in order to pay off debts.

“You were not bullied or blackmailed into this. Nor are you someone who is easily led. Lorry drivers have got to realize that if they get involved in this sort of thing they will lose their livelihood as well as their license.”

The pills, which had an estimated street value of £750,000, turned out to be a mixture of a class C drug called TFMPP.

Toner claimed he did not know about them until they were loaded on the lorry.

He said he considered dumping them but feared what would happen to his family if he arrived in Dublin without them.

The 69 bags of cannabis ‘skunk’ had an estimated street value of £400,000.

Speaking after the court case, acting detective chief inspector Andy Hughes from West Mercia Police’s Serious Organized Crime Unit said: “This is a substantial haul of controlled drugs in the West Mercia Police area.

“Every role in the drug dealing chain is an important one.

“The sentence of nine years reflects that and anyone considering getting involved in any way, shape or form should think again.”

He urged the public to remain vigilant and report anyone they believed to be drug dealing by calling 0300 3333000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Source: Worcester News

A man has been arrested after cannabis resin with a street value of £300,000 was found on a lorry on board a ferry at a Hampshire port.

Customs officers seized 100kg of the illegal cargo found in six white boxes hidden in a mixed load of goods as the lorry arrived in Portsmouth on Monday.

The 49-year-old British driver was arrested and questioned. He has since been bailed pending further inquiries.

The cargo was bound for destinations in Altrincham, Castleford and Norfolk.

A UK Border Agency (UKBA) spokesman said: "The cannabis is currently being tested to determine its street value, but it is believed to be worth approximately £300,000."

Source: BBC NEWS

UK – Whilst most involved in the freight industry beaver away in various specialised roles, from fork truck driver to stevedore and Bill of Lading clerk, there is whole army of Government employees concerned with policing every facet of the industry. For most of us there is a blurred line separating HM Revenue and Customs and the UK Border Agency but this is to be expected as the two roles apparently overlap, in fact this is not the case.

These days the guy who rummages through your truck for contraband is not a Customs Officer, all border points are manned by Border Agency staff, whilst Customs have reverted to an internal role, far more concerned with import licensing and revenue collection.

The UK Border Agency is viewed by many as a necessary evil, but they perform a thankless task with woefully inadequate resources, yet still manage to achieve a consistent set of results in all their fields of operation. Just as a beat bobby may have to deal with problems ranging from a lost child to an armed robbery so a glimpse at just this weeks headlines clearly illustrates the complexity and scope of the problems faced by the Agency.

Yesterday £300,000 worth of cannabis was seized at Portsmouth from an incoming lorry, a German national had £45,000 worth of Euros confiscated when it was found stuffed in his trousers at Saint Pancras station, today saw five people arrested in a sting operation at what appears to be a sham marriage ceremony to gain British citizenship, last week sniffer dogs found a bunch of Eritreans in a lorry in Calais (Border Agency staff operate there in cooperation with the French authorities) another common occurence..

Outside the freight industry the agency has, as usual, made dozens of arrests this month, mostly people working illegally, many in ethnic restaurants, all over the country and in Northern Ireland. Employers have to be tracked down and prosecuted if they have not completed the relevant check. Just last week the Agency deported a man who previously had jumped into the sea at Torquay to avoid capture and had been apprehended by a ferry commandeered by the authorities.

Anyone who feels they fancy the change to a role at the sharp end of shipping however is likely to be disappointed. In line with Government cut backs no vacancies will be advertised until further notice.

Source: Handy Shipping Guide