Police have been given four months to investigate whether £12,000 seized from the driver of a car seen speeding near Penrith is the proceeds of criminal conduct.
The 30-year-old driver, from London, was initially noted behind officers travelling on the M6 southbound near the town.
After he pulled into lane three, officers followed and illuminated blue lights but although the driver pulled across to lane one it was some distance before he stopped on the hard shoulder.
The driver claimed he hadn’t seen the blue lights but appeared nervous, Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard. Police executed a search of his vehicle through Misuse of Drugs Act legislation. They found 12 bundles of cash in a rucksack which was estimated to be around £12,000.
A passenger in the vehicle said they had no knowledge of the money and that it belonged to the driver, signing an officer’s pocket book to that effect.
The driver said the cash was from a friend in Glasgow and was being taken to a cousin in London. He refused both to give further details or sign an officer’s note.
A financial investigator, in his address to magistrates, said: “I’m here to ask for the money to be detained for four months so we can investigate the origin of the money.” Enquiries will be made to determine whether the money was legitimately acquired or whether it stemmed from criminal conduct.
Magistrates granted permission for the money to be retained by police, pending further investigations.
- Police have powers, under Proceeds of Crime legislation, to seize cash and assets if it is believed they may have been acquired through criminal activity.
