A FLACKWELL Heath man was arrested at a service station while taking part in a £1m cocaine deal, a court heard.

Gary Crawford, 53, was swooped on by police with two other men, who admit possession of a class A drug with intent to supply.

Mr Crawford, of Links Road, denies the charge.

He was arrested by an armed response unit at about lunchtime at the car park of Tabley Service Station, near Knutsford, Cheshire on July 25, 2009.

Crawford and a second man, George Chettle, 24, from Battersea, South London, met with Philip Dodd, 52, from Manchester, at the A556 services for an alleged drug deal, Chester Crown Court was told.

Chettle’s silver Ford Mondeo was parked alongside Dodd’s white Volkswagen van, which had its sliding door open, when police moved in, jurors heard.

Lewis Jones, prosecuting, said: “They were caught red handed by police in a service area off the M6.”

The court heard that the vehicles were examined in a secure location in Northwich where 19,038 grams of cocaine were found in the Mondeo.

Mr Lewis added: “Cocaine was in bags and in a holdall which was in a further bag in the boot of the car Mr Crawford was in.

“The value of the cocaine was enormous. Even on a street level we’re talking £1million.”

During his arrest, Crawford collapsed and started to sweat.

Sgt David Griffiths, who heads the armed response unit that made the arrests, said: “I had a lot of concern for Mr Crawford so an ambulance was called immediately.

“He was very pale and very grey.”

However, when Crawford was examined by paramedics he was deemed fit for arrest.

Mr Lewis added: “The transfer was about to take place as the police arrived. Mr Crawford’s reaction was shock at the realisation that the police had rumbled them.”

Mobile phones found in both vehicles also revealed that the two parties had been in contact before meeting at Tabley services.

One text message found on Dodd’s phone from 10.31am read: “You can give me then if safe. If not you can follow me to a gaff.”

The court heard that another message found in a phone in the Mondeo advised Dodd to look out for a man wearing a white jacket.

Police say that Crawford was wearing a white jacket during his arrest.

Notes wrapped in plastic amounting to £73,145 were also found in an orange chest during a search of Crawford’s home just after midnight on July 26.

Crawford made no comment during interviews at the Cheshire Police headquarters in Winsford.

Bernard Tetlow, defending, raised questions about why the vehicles were not searched at the scene.

But Sgt Griffiths said the vehicles had to be ‘preserved’ for a police approved garage in a secure location.

Mr Tetlow also highlighted discrepancies in statements about where the Mondeo and Volkswagen were parked.

The court heard that Sgt Griffiths believed the vehicles were parked alongside each other while PC Kevin Hoyland said there was one parking bay between them.

The trial continues.