A man has been arrested after police stopped a suspicious lorry on the M4 using pre-emptive tactics.
Officers from Gwent Police said the vehicle was intercepted on Thursday following intelligence shared by West Midlands Police.
Checks carried out at the scene revealed the driver was only a provisional licence holder and was not insured to drive the lorry.
Further inspection of the vehicle uncovered additional concerns. Police found the registration plates displayed did not match the lorry’s true identity, which had previously been declared off the road.
When officers searched the back of the vehicle, they discovered a number of empty intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), along with pumping equipment and tools.
A 58 year old man from the Birmingham area was arrested on suspicion of multiple offences, including driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, having no insurance, fraudulent use of number plates, and going equipped to steal.
He has since been charged to court for the driving offences and the fraudulent use of number plates.
Police confirmed the man remains under investigation in relation to the suspected offence of going equipped to steal, as enquiries continue.
