TWO men have been jailed for a total of more than seven years after £120,000 in laundered money and cocaine with an estimated street value of more than £150,000 was uncovered.

Leon Derek Taylor, 37, of Beveran Close in Fleet, was sentenced to five years for possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and for having more than £57,350 in cash, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act. He had pleaded guilty to both charges at a hearing at Guildford Crown Court last month.

At the sentencing at the same court on Friday, November 23, 36-year-old Christoffel David Van Rossum was jailed for two-and-a-half years for possession of criminal property, in total around £120,000 in cash. He had also pleaded guilty to the charge.

Van Rossum, of Merlin Close, Romford, was arrested at around 11.40am on July 26 near to Wisley after he had just met with Taylor at the Ripley BP service station on the southbound carriageway of the A3.

Police stopped Van Rossum and searched his hire vehicle, which was found to have a shoebox containing just over £57,000 in cash on the back seat. Later that day Taylor was arrested by police near to his home in Fleet. Following the initial arrests, Surrey Police officers carried out searches at the homes of both men and recovered around three kilograms of cocaine from one address and just over £63,000 in cash hidden in a wash basket at the other.

Detective Inspector Ben Lee said: “I welcome the sentences for Taylor and Van Rossum which send out the clear message that we will take strong action against anyone dealing drugs in Surrey.

“Both Taylor and Van Rossum were clearly involved in drug dealing on a large scale and I’m pleased that our investigation has led to both men being put behind bars.

He said the force would continue to “relentlessly pursue offenders” and to bring them to court.

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