Two Wirral men have been jailed after police discovered more than £121,000 in cash in a carrier bag during a stop in Liverpool, leading to the collapse of an organised crime operation.
On November 1, 2024, officers on patrol in Liverpool city centre saw a black Volkswagen T-Cross driven by Paul Howard. His nervous and agitated behaviour attracted police attention, and the car was stopped on New Islington. Howard was detained under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, and a search of the vehicle uncovered a carrier bag containing more than £121,000 in banknotes. Two mobile telephones were also seized.
Howard could not provide a credible explanation for the cash and was arrested on suspicion of possession of criminal property. A forensic examination of the bag recovered a fingerprint identified as belonging to Luke Raymond Holleron.
Cash courier for organised crime groups
Enquiries established that, between August and September 2024, Howard was directly involved in the transfer, storage and counting of £734,175 in cash. Evidence obtained from his mobile revealed he was operating as a cash courier on behalf of numerous organised crime groups (OCGs), facilitating the collection, transportation and delivery of criminal cash between criminal associates including Holleron.
Analysis of communications and cash records showed that Holleron could be linked to the movement of £170,640 in criminal cash, demonstrating that he was one of Howard's customers and utilised him for the transportation and movement of criminal property.
As a result of the evidence obtained, warrants were executed on January 16 this year at addresses associated with both Howard and Holleron. Holleron was arrested at his home in Rake Lane, Upton, where officers recovered cash, personal amounts of cocaine and cannabis, foreign currency, designer goods and two phones.
Managerial role and sentencing
The investigation identified extensive evidence relating to the supply of class A and class B controlled drugs and the movement of criminal cash. Its findings indicated that Holleron had a managerial role and that Howard acted as a dedicated cash courier on behalf of numerous OCGs, facilitating the movement, collection and storage of significant quantities of criminal property.
Holleron, 34, of Rake Lane, Upton, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A and B drugs (cocaine, MDMA, ketamine and cannabis) and three counts of possession of criminal property. At Liverpool Crown Court, he was jailed for a total of nine years and four months.
Howard, 58, of Bell Road, Egremont, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess criminal property. He was given a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years, 300 hours of unpaid work and a probation requirement.
Police statement on the investigation
The NCA's Jon Hughes, co-head of Merseyside OCP, said: "Howard and Holleron were detained as a result of the instincts and quick thinking of officers, in what was an extensive and complex joint investigation into organised criminals involved in the importation and distribution of drugs, firearms and criminal cash throughout the UK, including in Merseyside.
"Innocent lives are being destroyed by organised crime groups who peddle misery and we will continue to protect communities by bringing offenders to justice."
Hughes added: "We know from experience that information from the public can make a real difference in disrupting and deterring organised criminals, so I encourage anyone who has seen or heard something suspicious that could be linked to criminal activity to report it."
