A man has been charged after police seized cocaine with an estimated street value of £20,000 following a proactive vehicle stop in Mill End.
The incident unfolded on Monday afternoon (19 February) when officers from the Operational Support Group intercepted an Audi A4 on Shepherds Lane. The stop was prompted by suspicions of a drug transaction, coupled with the detection of the smell of cannabis.
Under the authority of Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, a search of the vehicle was conducted, leading to the discovery of approximately £1,000 in cash and two mobile phones. Subsequently, a roadside drugs test was carried out on the driver, who tested positive for cannabis. Consequently, he was placed under arrest.
Following this arrest, a related search was executed at an address in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, on Tuesday (20 February). The search yielded approximately a quarter kilo of cocaine. Additionally, more than £5,700 in cash, a mobile phone, two extendable batons, and drug paraphernalia were confiscated from the premises.
Liam O’Brien, 35, currently of no fixed address, has been formally charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs (cocaine) and possession of an offensive weapon (baton).
O’Brien has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear at St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday 20 March. Detective Sergeant Tony Quince, from the Three Rivers Local Crime Unit said: “This fantastic result was achieved with teamwork; the proactive stop was made by Watford-based Operational Support Group officers, who were assisted by colleagues from the Three Rivers Operation Scorpion team. The subsequent work to charge and remand O’Brien was carried out by the Three Rivers Local Crime Unit. We now await the outcome of O’Brien’s court appearance next month.”
