A Watford drug dealer was caught red-handed with a loaded handgun and a fortune in cash – landing him behind bars for six years.
Dealer Admits to Gun and £30k Cash on the Spot
Daniel Pickavance, 27, from Otley Way, Watford, shocked National Crime Agency (NCA) officers during a stop on Watford Road, Radlett on 29 October 2025. He blurted out, “There’s thirty grand in there and a handgun.”
He then pointed to the back seat of his VW Golf, where officers found a loaded Top-Venting Blank-Firing pistol packed with five 8mm bullets and over £30,000 in cash.
Drug Den Raided – More Cash and Cannabis Found
The NCA didn’t stop at the traffic stop. Raids on Pickavance’s properties uncovered 3.3 kilos of cannabis, almost £6,000 in extra cash, and a cash counting machine. The evidence painted a clear picture of a serious drug operation in play.
From Plumber to Prisoner – Six Years Locked Up
Pickavance kept quiet during police interviews but finally pleaded guilty to multiple charges at St Albans Crown Court on 2 December 2025. Today, he was sentenced to five years and four months for drug offences, plus eight months for breaching a suspended assault sentence from last year.
NCA Senior Investigating Officer Matteo Sole said: “Pickavance was caught red-handed with a dangerous weapon he likely used to enforce his drug trade. The mountain of evidence left him no option but to plead guilty. The NCA remains committed to protecting the public from firearms and drugs by taking criminals like Pickavance off the streets.”
Deadly DIY Gun Poses Huge Threat
The seized firearm was a TVBF pistol – a blank-firing weapon that’s easily converted into a lethal gun with simple DIY tools. Possessing such weapons can lead to up to 10 years in jail.
Date: 27 February 2026
