Express & Star

Two jailed after drug stop and search on M6

Two people have been jailed following a stop and search on the M6 which led to a discovery of £20,000 worth of drugs hidden in a petrol can.

Published
The cash recovered.

The 1.9kg of amphetamines was found when Anthony Battle’s Ford Kuga was stopped at the Hilton services in South Staffordshire.

Battle, who was acting as a courier, was driving the amphetamines from Liverpool down to the south coast when he was stopped by officers from Central Motorways Policing Group on April 5 last year.

Forensic work on the amphetamine wraps led officers to James Murphy, whose Liverpool address was searched revealing nearly 1kg of cannabis skunk along with a cash-counting machine and £100,000 in a carrier bag.

Anthony Battle

Further cash was found secreted around the house making the total seized £126,675.

A warrant was executed on September 12 2017 at Murphy’s property.

On October 11, at Stafford Crown Court, Murphy, 31, of Lower Close, in Halewood, was sentenced to three years and nine months.

James Murphy.

Battle, 55, of Norfolk Road, Weymouth, was sentenced to four months imprisonment.

The court heard Battle had driven up from Weymouth to Liverpool, a task which he was paid £300 to do, to then transport the 1.94kg of amphetamine back down to the south coast the same day.

Petrol can.

Murphy pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply amphetamines and cannabis and money laundering. Battle pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of amphetamines.

Detective Inspector Lesley Fowler, from Staffordshire Police Major Organised Crime Department, said: “We welcome the outcome, which is the result of a thorough and meticulous investigation.”