Man jailed for hiding cash and cocaine in Merseyside

A man named Daniel Dunne has been sentenced to seven years in prison after police found a large amount of cash and drugs in his home. The 28-year-old from Sefton Park was initially stopped by police for not wearing a seatbelt while driving on June 20, 2024. When he got out of the car, a small bag of white powder, thought to be cocaine, fell from the driver's seat. Police also discovered £600 in cash inside the vehicle. This led officers to search Dunne's home, where they uncovered £1,066,382 in cash and roughly one kilogram of cocaine. The money was hidden in various places, including on a shelf above his toaster and in Cadbury Heroes boxes. Dunne pleaded guilty to drug-related charges and was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on March 21. The cash found in Dunne's house is now subject to a Proceeds of Crime hearing. It was ruled recoverable and will be sent to the Home Office. Some of it will be used by Merseyside Police for community initiatives to combat crime. Detective Chief Inspector Mike Dalton stated that what started as a traffic stop led to a significant drug investigation. He emphasized the police's commitment to tackling drug-related issues in the community and pursuing lawbreakers like Dunne. Police encourage anyone with information about drug activities to contact them.