Blackpool man jailed after drugs haul found in his car

Sunday, 29 June 2025 08:54

By Central Radio News

Drugs worth £80,000 were seized when Lancashire Police officers stopped a car which had been travelling on the M6.

On 19th March, police requested that a BMW 320 being driven by Christopher O’Neill (pictured) leave the motorway at Broughton.

When it stopped on Garstang Road, the car was searched, and a bag was found in the boot.

The bag contained four vacuum sealed packages of amphetamine, each package weighing around 2kg.

The estimated street-value of the amphetamine was £80,000.

O’Neill was arrested, subsequently charged and remanded into custody following enquiries by Preston CID.

At Preston Crown Court, O’Neill, 57, of Convent Crescent, Blackpool, appeared for sentence after pleading guilty to possession of a Class B controlled drug with intent to supply.

He was jailed for three years and nine months.

Inspector Paul Gaynor of the Road Crime team, said: “A significant amount of amphetamine was found in Christopher O’Neill’s car and those drugs have been taken off the streets.

“We take very seriously any attempts to use the motorway and roads network in Lancashire to transport drugs and welcome the prison sentence passed by the judge in this case.”

Op Warrior is Lancashire Police's response to tackling serious and organised crime in Lancashire, supported by Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.

It aims to target the individuals and gangs involved in crime, as well as associated issues such as violence and intimidation, large scale drug supply, exploitation, and fraud, all of which can cause serious harm to local communities.

Have you got a local news story? Email us now, news@central.radio

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