A VISITOR to Carlisle has been remanded in custody after being accused of transporting a van that was crammed with cannabis worth £900,000.

Londoner Zygimantas Viktorians, 42, from Newham, was charged over an incident that happened on the motorway north of Carlisle, the city’s Rickergate court heard. He has pleaded not guilty to two allegations.

They are: that he possessed some 89kg of cannabis bush, a class B drug, in the van with intent to supply; and that he possessed “criminal property,” namely £320 in cash.

The charges were brought after the defendant was stopped in the van involved on the M6 near to junction 44 at about 3pm on December 21.

After hearing an outline of the allegations, District Judge John Templerley sent the case to Carlisle Crown Court, saying it was too serious to be dealt with at the magistrates’ court because the high value of the drugs.

He told Viktorians, a self-employed handyman who has lived in the UK for nine years, that he will remain remanded in custody.

The case will go before the crown court on January 20. The defendant was represented by defence lawyer Jeff Smith.