POLICE have seized a large amount of cannabis and Class A drugs from an abandoned van.
Officers became suspicious of an uninsured van seen driving and then found abandoned close to Harwich Hospital during a night patrol on Monday.
The Vauxhall van had a small lockable safe fitted to it which smelt strongly of cannabis.
When police opened the safe a large amount of cannabis and Class A drugs were found.
An Essex Police spokesman said: "We are no van experts but don't remember Vauxhall fitting their vans with a small lockable safe, especially one that smelt strongly of cannabis."
The van has been seized and so has the safe and several other items of forensic value.
He added: "This seizure has removed a drug dealers vehicle and a sizeable amount of illegal drugs from the local area.
"The forensic team will soon identify anyone who had come into contact with the recovered items and prosecution will follow."
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