Gang members ordered to repay over £670,000 following drugs seizure in Nottinghamshire
39kg of cocaine and 18kg of heroin were seize in August 2017
Gang members have been ordered to repay more than £670,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act after a drugs seizure in Nottinghamshire.
39kg of cocaine and 18kg of heroin was found concealed in a pallet of raspberry sorbet in Bilsthorpe at a freezer storage unit in 2017.
It is believed to be one of the biggest drugs seizures in Nottinghamshire for many years.
Five people went on to be convicted.
John Madden, from Merseyside, was aged 51 when he was jailed for 21 years after pleading guilty to conspiring to fraudulently evade a prohibition on the importation of a Class A drug.
William Morritt, from Derbyshire, was aged 69 when he was jailed for 18 years after he was found guilty following a jury trial of conspiring to fraudulently evade a prohibition on the importation of a Class A drug.
They were both jailed in 2023.
Last week (2nd Apr), the pair were ordered to repay a fraction of the profits they made.
Morritt received a confiscation order demanding repayment of £367,301.91, having benefitted by £2,384,655.93 from his illegal actions.
Madden must repay £311,209.51 from a benefit total of £2,485,569.91.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Adas said: “These orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act are another example of our determination to ensure offenders do not continue to benefit from a lifestyle fuelled by crime.
“This detailed investigation, going back to 2017, led to the seizure of a very substantial haul of Class A drugs before they had the chance to cause significant damage.
“Drugs fuel violent crime and other exploitative criminal activities and we will continue to work with our partners to protect our communities, combat such criminality, and bring those involved to justice.
“We will continue to gather evidence and use the Proceeds of Crime Act legislation to investigate the funds of criminals and confiscate any assets or monies we believe they have accrued through their criminal activities."