Case studies
Back to previous pageTackling Drugs Supply Awards 2004 - Best practice in asset recovery
Winner: Operation McArthur: MerseysideThis initiative was conducted in partnership with HMC&E and NCIS. As a result of intelligence an organised criminal network was identified and the main subject Mr X became the focus of an investigation.
Mr X had gained obvious wealth through his criminality. He had extensive business interests in a number of countries and was using off shore bank accounts to deposit large sums of money.
Associates of Mr X were arrested in possession of five and 14 kilos of heroin respectively during the summer of 2003 and received long custodial sentences, Mr X was implicated in being involved in these operations.
As a result of further intelligence via NCIS and HMC&E Mr X and five associates were arrested in connection with an attempt to import over 20kilos of heroin and 18 kilos of cocaine along with substantial quantities of ecstasy and amphetamines.
Mr X was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment in July 2003 and at a further confiscation hearing the judge determined that Mr X had benefited to the sum of £1.5 from drug trafficking and ordered a further £1 million in assets to be confiscated.
In addition, during this operation drugs in excess of £5 million have been seized, whilst prison sentences totalling 103 years have been handed down to Mr X and his associates.
Commended: White Horse: West Yorkshire
This operation focussed on a known suspect Mr X involved in large scale class A drug supply.
The investigation discovered that the suspect was buying high performance vehicles and investing in property.
An intelligence and evidence gathering operation took place. Cash to the value of £ 32,757 was found hidden in a property owned by the suspect and substantial quantities of heroin and crack were discovered at other addresses linked to the subject.
Mr X was found guilty of drug trafficking and money laundering offences in April 2003 and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Subsequently he was found to have benefited benefited from his criminality and a confiscation order of £400,201.64p was made against Mr X.
