£48,000 Confiscated from Drug Dealer
CROWN OFFICE AND PROCURATOR FISCAL SERVICE
NEWS RELEASE
16 FEBRUARY 2012
£48,000 CONFISCATED FROM DRUG DEALER
At Glasgow Sheriff Court today, a Confiscation Order for £48,837.94 was made against Ejaz Chaudhry (DOB 20/06/1976).
Chaudhry, from Glasgow, had previously pled guilty to producing and being concerned in the supply of cannabis, and possessing CS spray. He was sentenced to 300 hours community service.
Lindsey Miller, Head of the Serious and Organised Crime Division (SOCD) and the current POCA champion, said:
“Ejaz Chaudry was found asleep inside a flat which contained all the elements of a cannabis factory, even the instructions on how to grow the drug.
“Further, £3,000 of cannabis was recovered from the flat along with £2,810 in cash.
“The drug dealing conviction which resulted from these offences allowed the Crown to look at all of Chaudry’s income over the six years prior to his arrest.
“The order of £48,000 made today represents Chaudhry’s benefit from criminal activities during this time.
“The message is clear – we are using the Proceeds of Crime Act to take back money from people producing and selling drugs, and in the process are disrupting their illegal activities.
“This money will now be re-invested in good causes through the Scottish Ministers’ CashBack for Communities programme, adding to the £44million already recovered in this way.”
Ends
Notes for Editors
1. At Glasgow Sheriff Court on 25 March 2010, Ejaz Chaudry pled guilty to three offences committed on 3 April 2009 at Flat 1/1, 478 St Vincent Street, Glasgow. The offences were: being concerned in the supply of cannabis (section 4(3)(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971); producing cannabis (section 4(2)(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971); and being in possession, without the authority of the Secretary of State, of CS spray (section 5(1)(b) Firearms Act 1968 as amended by the Transfer of Functions (Prohibited Weapons) Order 1968.
2. On 3 April 2009 a search warrant was executed at the address in St Vincent Street. Chaudry was found asleep within the flat. A cupboard within the bedroom, which was secured with a padlock and hasp was forced and found to be lined with reflective material and contained a hydroponics system (horticulture trays, high powered lighting, electric fans and a cannabis plant). More cultivation equipment was recovered from within the flat as well as a notepad with cannabis cultivation instructions and £2,810 in cash. In addition 712g of cannabis was recovered from within the flat. This included 17 bags made up into approximately 6 gram deals. The total cannabis recovered had a street value of approximately £3,000. The officers also recovered the CS spray during the search which Chaudhry admitted was his.
3. A Confiscation Order is an order made by the court following criminal conviction, to pay a fixed sum of money from the proceeds of crime. An application for confiscation is one of the tools at the disposal of the Crown under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995.
4. The Serious and Organised Crime Division works together with colleagues at the Civil Recovery Unit, and other law enforcement agencies, such as the Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency, UK Police Forces, HM Revenue and Customs and Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) to identify and recover the proceeds of crime.
5. Proceeds of Crime legislation is also used by the Civil Recovery Unit acting on behalf of Scottish Ministers. The Civil Recovery Unit investigates and recovers the property realised through criminal activity of individuals, in the civil courts without the need for criminal conviction.
6. Since 2003, the use of the Proceeds of Crime Act in Scotland has allowed over £60million to be recovered from criminals. Money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act is invested by Scottish Ministers. Over £44m of these proceeds have been put to excellent use by investing in a wide range of sporting, cultural, educational and mentoring activities for children and young people through the CashBack for Communities programme. Since the programme's inception in 2007, over 600,000 young people across Scotland have benefited. Details can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/cashback
7. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is a committed member of the Scottish Government’s Serious Organised Crime Task Force. The Task Force has a remit to pursue serious organised crime in all its forms by bringing together all agencies involved in tackling organised crime groups. Task Force members include the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, the Lord Advocate, representatives from COPFS, the Scottish Government, ACPOS, SCDEA, HMRC, SOCA and SPS. Details of the work of the Taskforce can be accessed here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/crimes/organised-crime.
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