Family sentenced for drugs and money laundering

A Hull family who ran a nationwide drug and money laundering scheme that made more than £800,000 has been sentenced.

The gang were caught when a shop alerted police about suspicious packages being posted by Daniel Cotson.

He was arrested in May 2021 after officers attended the store and found 32 bags containing drugs.

Cotson, 43, was jailed for three years after admitting to multiple drug-related offences, including supplying cocaine, at Hull Crown Court in September.

Cotson, of The Link in Hull, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property, possessing criminal property, and three counts of supplying a controlled Class C drug.

His parents Paul Cotson, 71, and Stephanie Cotson, 70, of the same address, were found guilty in September of conspiracy to convert criminal property, following a five-day trial at Hull Crown Court.

The couple were both sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for 12 months, and must each complete 240 hours of unpaid work.

Humberside Police said a raid on Cotson's home found tablets with a street value of £44,703, cocaine worth £1,250, and £1,180 in cash.

An investigation revealed Cotson received £812,797 in third-party bank transfers and moved £534,000 to his parents' savings account, the force added.

PC Mark Bentley said Paul and Stephanie Cotson "actively helped him move and invest over half a million pounds of criminal money."

"They invested criminal proceeds in their own names and attempted to distance themselves from the source of the funds despite clear contrasting evidence," he said.

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