A Hull-based crime family have been ‘signed, sealed and sentenced’ after sending large amounts of unlicensed Class C drugs across the UK via local shops and post offices
A crime family dubbed “not quite the Sopranos” by cops have been sentenced after laundering over £800,000 and distributing drugs nationwide. Three members of the Cotson clan were found guilty of various offences and have now been “signed, sealed and sentenced”.
The trio were part of a scheme that saw Daniel Cotson dispatch large amounts of unlicensed Class C drugs – including zopiclone, diazepam and temazepam – across the UK via local shops and post offices.
These were sold online with payments channelled into his bank accounts before being transferred to his parents, Paul and Stephanie Cotson, who invested £460,000 whilst also claiming benefits.
Daniel Cotson, 43, of Marine Wharf, Hull, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of criminal property, two counts of possession with intent to supply cocaine, conspiracy to convert criminal property, supplying class C zopiclone, supplying class C diazepam, and supplying class C temazepam.
He was sentenced to three years behind bars. Paul Cotson, 71, and Stephanie Cotson, 70, of The Link, Hull, were found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to convert criminal property following a four-day trial.
They both received two-year prison sentences, suspended for 12 months, and were each ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work, reports Hull Live.
Investigations into the illicit operation kicked off in May 2021 when a staff member from a Hull city centre shop flagged suspicious packages being dispatched by Daniel Cotson. A security check at the store revealed one of the parcels contained blister packs filled with tablets.
Police swooped in and confiscated 32 postal bags suspected to contain controlled drugs. CCTV investigations confirmed that Cotson was a regular visitor to the shop from where he was posting the parcels.
He was arrested during one of his parcel dispatching visits and found with two postal bags ready for shipment. A raid on Cotson’s home led to the seizure of tablets with a street value of £44,703, cocaine worth £1,250, and £1,180 in cash.
Further probes unveiled that between May 2019 and July 2021, Cotson had received £812,797.27 in third-party bank transfers. Over £534,000 of this was moved to his parents’ savings account, which they invested under their own names.
Despite being fully aware of Daniel’s previous convictions, including a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) order issued in 2013, both Paul and Stephanie Cotson continued to support and profit from his criminal activities.
Police Constable Mark Bentley of Humberside Police, the officer leading the case, stated: “This investigation uncovered a deliberate and sustained effort to profit from crime. Daniel Cotson was responsible for the supply of unlicensed and controlled drugs across the country, using local shops to post parcels and online platforms to reach customers.
“Paul and Stephanie Cotson were not only aware of Daniel’s previous convictions, but they actively helped him move and invest over half a million pounds of criminal money. They attended his previous court hearings, knew the risks, and still chose to involve themselves.
“They invested criminal proceeds in their own names and attempted to distance themselves from the source of the funds despite clear contrasting evidence.”
Detective Inspector Matt Grantham from the Kinetic Organised Crime Group team chimed in: “Drug crime fuels violence, damages lives, and exploits the most vulnerable people in society. This case represents a clear message that crime doesn’t pay, even when it’s kept in the family.
“These sentences are the result of a complex and sustained investigation into a family-run criminal network. Officers worked tirelessly to piece together financial records, digital evidence, and witness accounts to expose the full scale of the Cotsons operation.
“We remain relentless in our commitment to find those responsible for organised crime and bring them before the courts.”