£38k cash, drugs and gun haul on m-way
8:03am Friday 28th December 2012 in News
A VAN driver’s erratic driving led police to a £38,000 haul of drugs, firearms and criminal cash.
Traffic officers noticed the van, driven by Terence Coxon, aged 42, from Doffcocker, change lanes suddenly at a roundabout near Preston, causing another vehicle to brake suddenly.
But when police pulled the vehicle over, they noticed Coxon seemed nervous and searched the van.
Inside, they discovered £38,000 in cash.
Officers then searched Coxon’s house in Hazelwood Road, where they discovered a loaded high powered pistol, 37 cartridges of ammunition, cocaine and cannabis.
Coxon pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, possession of ammunition without a licence, and possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, at Preston Crown Court.
He was jailed for 11 years.
DC Craig Shirtcliffe from Lancashire Police said: “I am very pleased with this sentence — Coxon is a dangerous individual, who thanks to the initial vigilance of the motorway officers, is now off the streets.
“A simple traffic stop led to the discovery of a huge amount of cash, firearms, ammunition and drugs which is all now out of circulation and following a thorough investigation, the man responsible is now behind bars.
“I hope this case serves as a warning that eventually, criminals will find that one way or another, the law will catch up with you and you will be put before the courts.”
