A man who was found with a "significant amount" of heroin stuffed in his underwear claimed he was transporting it in order to "clear a debt".
Sean Lauder was found with thousands of pounds worth of the drug when police pulled over a vehicle he was travelling in on November 16, last year.
Lauder was the front seat passenger in a car being driven by his brother when police pulled them over in Bishop Auckland following reports the vehicle was linked to a number of incidents.