Liverpool crime gang members caught with £60,000 cocaine and £26,000 cash at Testos roundabout

Courier Liam Scotton and driver Cuneyt Taskin had transported the illegal haul from the Liverpool area to South Tyneside on June 21.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the pair had been travelling in a Ford Mondeo which was stopped on the A19 at Testos roundabout.

Scotton, 29, of Waldgrave Road, Liverpool and Taskin, 47, of Liscard Road, Wirral, both admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply and money laundering.

Judge Robert Spragg jailed Scotton, who has drugs offences on his record, for six years and Taskin, who has no previous drugs involvement, for four years and nine months.

The judge said Scotton was "acting as a courier for the Merseyside Organised Crime Gang" and Taskin was used by the gang as a " trusted driver for the transportation of drugs".

The court heard police had observed the vehicle seemingly stop to carry out deals at Fellgate Estate in Jarrow and St. Vincent Street in South Shields before it was pulled over.

Prosecutor Vince Ward told the court two kilos of cocaine, worth up to £32,000 each, and £26,000 in cash were found in packages in the car.

A search of the vehicle sat-nav device showed the car had been in South Tyneside the previous day and that the next stop was to be in Bradford.

The court heard officers had seen Scotton hand over a yellow bag during the stop-off at Fellgate and the men had returned to meet he same man, who was on a bike, shortly afterwards.

Prosecutor Vince Ward said: "Phone correspondence indicated there were drugs in the bag and the person they had been given to wasn't happy."

Mr Ward said the men appeared to be acting under the direction of Dean Woods, a Liverpool dealer who has admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and is "higher up the chain".

Nicholas Lane, defending Scotton, said: "He is disappointed with himself that he has put himself back before the courts."

Mr Lane said Scotton had took on the courier role to pay off drugs debts and has vowed to never repeat such behaviour again.

He added: "He doesn't wish to make any excuses or say he was threatened or under duress but he was fearful if he didn't repay the debt there were consequences that would be faced by him or members of his family."

David Callan, defending Taskin, said the Turkish national had been an established member of the Merseyside community for many years and was employed as a legitimate taxi driver who worked hard to support his family.

Mr Callan said: "He works extremely hard as a taxi driver. He is a genuine taxi driver, a personable fellow."

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