£10,000 Confiscated from Drug Dealer
CROWN OFFICE AND PROCURATOR FISCAL SERVICE
NEWS RELEASE
10 FEBRUARY 2012
£10,000 CONFISCATED FROM DRUG DEALER
At Dunfermline Sheriff Court today, a Confiscation Order for £10,000 was made against Gregory Hughes (DOB 12/03/1971).
Hughes, from Dunfermline, had previously pled guilty to cultivating cannabis at his home in Rosyth. He was sentenced to 180 hours community service.
Lindsey Miller, Head of the Serious and Organised Crime Division (SOCD) and the current POCA champion, said:
"Gregory Hughes was caught with 46 cannabis plants growing in his home - showing he was cultivating a significant amount of illegal drugs.
"As this was a 'lifestyle offence' under the Proceeds of Crime Act, this meant the court could look at his income over the six years prior to his arrest. He was in employment at the time but he could not account for £11,890.62 of his income.
"Today's confiscation order for £10,000 represents the figure available to us at this time.
"This money will now be put to good causes via the Scottish Government's Cashback for Communities programme, in which £44million has already been invested.
"COPFS will continue to use the powerful Proceeds of Crime legislation to disrupt the activities of anyone involved in the drug trade to prevent them re-investing their profits."
Ends
Notes for Editors
1. At Dunfermline Sheriff Court on 23 April 2010, Gregory Hughes pled guilty to Section 4(2)(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, for being concerned in the production of cannabis. He was sentenced on 19 May 2010 to a 180 hour community service order.
2. At date of arrest Hughes was employed as a maintenance electrician for Babcocks. Police officers received information that Hughes was producing cannabis from his home at 89 Syme Place, Rosyth, Dunfermline. A search of the property on 3 June 2009 found 46 cannabis plants within his property together with drug growing equipment.
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. More than ?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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