An operation which began in 2019 has finally concluded after 29 defendants were issued with confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
Operation Clubman was a drugs enforcement operation which saw 39 defendants being convicted and jailed for more than 165 years in prison between them.
Following the convictions the force submitted confiscation order applications to the courts and the last of those orders were granted last week at Leicester Crown Court.
Confiscation orders are granted by the courts following the conviction of individuals where there is evidence to support the defendant has gained financially from their crimes The orders allow the force to seize cash, cars, property and any items of value.
Twenty-nine defendants were said to have benefitted from their crimes by more than £6m and orders to the value of more than £2.5m were granted by the courts.
The last three defendants in the case were issued with confiscation orders on Wednesday 17 January, worth more than £1.65m between them.
They were each said to have benefitted from their crimes by £1.65m.
Detective Sergeant Lindsay O’Nion from EMSOU said: “The investigation as a whole was very lengthy and complex and following the POCA hearings this widescale operation has now concluded.
“A lot of work has gone into securing the confiscation orders and I’d like to pay testament to the Economic Crime Unit for their thorough work on ensuring the orders were granted but also the vast majority of defendants have now paid the value of their orders.
“This goes some way in showing those who take the path of criminality that our work doesn’t just end at convictions, we will go after your ill-gotten gains.”
The money obtained from POCA orders go to the Home Office who take 50 per cent - in the case of criminal confiscations off the back of the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) 50 per cent is ploughed back into the force, CPS and His Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service (HMCTS).
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