In May 2009, a quantity of cash was recovered from Christopher Darragh's business premises following the execution of a search warrant issued under the Misuse of Drugs Act.


The money was examined and found to be heavily contaminated with cannabis.

Darragh, of Todd Lane North, said he was holding the vast majority of the money for a friend who is a convicted drug dealer serving a custodial sentence.

He claimed he sold some cars for him so that he could satisfy a confiscation order made in a court in southern England; however those cars were sold some months previously.

At Chorley Magistrates Court on Friday, the magistrates were satisfied that the money was from the proceeds of criminal activity and ordered Darragh to forfeit £33,510.

All monies forfeited are split equally between the police and Home Office.

This money is then ploughed back into policing and to finance further financial investigation.