Assets worth almost £35,000 are to be seized from a Stoke Gifford man convicted of drug dealing.
In August 2009 the man admitted supplying cocaine and cannabis and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. On Friday February 05 2010 Bristol Crown Court ordered the confiscation of his realisable assets – £15,758 in cash seized from his home and two vehicles with a total value of £34,758.
The order follows an investigation by the Avon and Somerset Constabulary Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) which showed that the man had benefited from crime to the amount of £123,932.
Dr Kirstie Cogram, who manages the FIU, said: “This confiscation order demonstrates the ongoing commitment of Avon and Somerset Constabulary to dismantling criminal networks and seizing their assets.
“This order should send a clear warning to criminals that crime does not pay and any benefits they have gained from their criminal activity will be stripped away.”
This is the 111th confiscation order obtained by Avon and Somerset Constabulary this financial year (2009-10).
Last year, assets worth more than £2.5 million were seized in 133 cases. A further £5.6 million is cash and assets have been frozen pending the outcome of current court cases.
The money seized goes to central government, the police, CPS and the courts. Through the new Community Payback scheme launched last May, some of the money is also returned to local communities.
Related link: Atrium Initiative
Source: Avon and Somerset Police
