AN Irish businessman claimed that £292,000 seized by Customs officers investigating an alleged drugs money laundering operations belonged to him, Bolton Crown Court was told.

The cash is alleged to be part of the proceeds of a cocaine and heroin smuggling operation worth £1 million.

Haulage boss Vic Davies, from Wigan, and two employees from Deane, Bolton, lorry driver Michael Hatton and mechanic Thomas Bradley, deny importing the drugs and laundering cash from the proceeds of drug trafficking.

Michael McGee, who lives in Co Clare, Ireland, sent a sworn affidavit to Customs and Excise officers saying he had given the cash to Davies as part of a business deal.

He had met Davies and agreed that the money, which he said totalled £274,000, should be taken to Europe by one of his lorry drivers.

But Hatton, who was driving Davies's lorry to the continent, was stopped at Dover and the cash was seized.

McGee said the cash was his to use at European auctions to buy machinery. He was given the chance to be interviewed over his claim, but officers have not had any reply.

Customs officer Terry Magee told the court yesterday that forensic accountants checking Davies's haulage business records said that no legitimate source for £696,000 could be identified.

The prosecution said the case involved smuggling cocaine and heroin worth more than £1 million on the streets.

(Proceeding)