Cumbria Police find £70k hidden in Peugeot on M6 near Penrith

Officers stopped the Peugeot 308 because they were concerned about the manner of the driving as the driver travelled south on the motorway on January 11.

Suspicions were also raised in part because of inconsistencies with the car’s insurance documentation.

The officers also noticed a strong smell of cannabis in the car, and this prompted a decision to search the car, the occupants of which were Albanian nationals.

A financial investigator told magistrates at Carlisle’s Rickergate court that the search revealed a professionally constructed hiding place in the car’s boot, inside which the money was found. It consisted of Scottish bank notes.

Investigations revealed that the car had been involved in repeated trips to Aberdeen. When he was spoken to, the the driver refused to answer the officers’ questions about what he had been doing.

Thus police seized the cash under Proceeds of Crime legislation. After hearing details, magistrates approved the money’s continued detention for six months.

The driver was told about the hearing but failed to attend court.

Police will continue to investigate the origins of the cash and may eventually apply for its forfeiture if they can convince magistrates that it is derived from or intended to fund crime.