Baked or mashed? Drugs found hidden inside bag of frozen potatoes

A drug investigation in the U.K. is ongoing after a 63-year-old man was discovered with a mix of drugs stashed in a bag of frozen potatoes.

A photo issued by the Merseyside Police shows a bag of Aunt Bessie’s roast potatoes, along with drugs found in a raid.

Police report the investigation began after officers on patrol observed “a man in a Ford Focus car acting suspiciously.”

After stopping and searching the vehicle, police seized a small amount of suspected amphetamine, a burner phone and money.

A residence in Bromborough, Wirral, was then searched and police seized a large quantity of suspected amphetamine that was found in a fridge. Officers also seized bags of white powder, cannabis and numerous individual wraps of amphetamine.

The man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a controlled Class B drug – amphetamine. He has been released under investigation pending further inquiries.

Supplying or producing amphetamine carries a maximum penalty of up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. Possession of a Class B drug, which also includes cannabis, can lead to five years in prison, an unlimited fine or both, according to information from the government. 

In a statement, a police spokesperson thanked “proactive policing” for taking a significant amount of drugs off the streets.

“We urge people to continue coming forward with information and intelligence by either contacting us or anonymously through Crimestoppers so we can act,” they said. “Stop searches, warrants, land searches and arrests take place all year round, and in many instances it is thanks to the public who tell us where there are issues in the community.”

Aunt Bessie’s Limited manufactures a popular line of frozen food items in the U.K., including Yorkshire puddings, potato products and other ready meals.

Last year in the U.K., three men were sentenced to more than four decades in prison for taking part in an organized crime scheme that included smuggling packages of cannabis and cocaine in sweet potato shipments.

The shipments were arriving to the U.K. from Jamaica and contained a total of 85.5 kilograms of drugs, which police valued at more than $5.6 million.