£100k of heroin was due to be taken to Black Country by taxi, court hears

Popinder Singh Kandola from Walsall is claimed to have been a 'central figure' in coordinating the transfer of 1.23 kilogrammes of drugs.

They were being taken by an alleged accomplice of Kandola after a taxi had been booked from Birmingham to a location near junction seven of the M6 at Great Barr.

But it was stopped by police on January 10, 2012 ahead getting there, a jury at Birmingham Crown Court was told.

Kandola, who is accused of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs is also on trial charged with a separate offence money laundering of tens of thousands of pounds with another man John Parkes.

It is alleged Kandola, aged 54, had been in contact with two men involved in the handover of the drugs on the day with phone.

He had been picked up from his home in Skip Lane and was later seen parked up at a junction not far from where the drugs were passed over on Upper Balsall Heath Road, Birmingham.

This included speaking to an alleged accomplice around 20 minutes before the handover was captured through surveillance.

Mr Robert Davies, prosecuting, said the Mercedes of which Kandola had been a passenger was then seen in a car park close to where it is believed the drugs were being taken.

"We suggest it was no coincidence and he was there to meet," Mr Davies said.

He added it was down to the jury to decide whether Kandola had involvement but told the hearing: "We say he was central to it. He himself controlling events having contact with crucial people."

The prosecution say he was also involved in the laundering of £50,000 with Parkes.

Kandola was driven to an address in Ward Street, Coseley, where Parkes lives on August 18, 2012, and was then seen putting a bag in the car.

Mr Davies said: "The crown's case is this reeks of crime. The bag of cash was under Mr Parkes control. Mr Kandola was essentially involved in the movement of this cash.

"We would suggest drugs related given Mr Kandola's involvement in heroin, but in fact it could be any crime."

Parkes, aged 45, is also accused of a separate charge of money laundering worth £60,000. It is claimed he put money into the back of another man's car in Bayer Street, Coseley in October 2012.

The trial continues.