A Nottingham drug dealer has been ordered to pay back more than £75,000 of his ill-gotten gains.
Ashton Swanwick, who was sentenced to four years in prison in June last year after admitting conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine, was told £27,005 seized by police as part of the undercover drugs operation would be confiscated.
Swanwick, 23, formerly of Hendon Rise, St Ann’s, can also be actively pursued for the remainder of the £75,492 amount through seizures of any assets he accumulates for the rest of his life.
His honour Judge Sampson QC made the order under the Proceeds of Crime Act at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday (May 3). Swanwick had contested the order.
Detective Sergeant John Armstrong, who led the investigation, said: “This order shows that crime does not pay.
“Nottinghamshire Police will relentlessly pursue individuals who commit offences of this type that cause misery to the communities of Nottingham.
“We will also work tirelessly to remove any assets they have obtained as a result of those offences.”
Swanwick was one of 15 men who were jailed after a Class A drugs gang based in St Ann’s was exposed by detectives.
The operation began with test purchase operations in the area between September 2014 and January 2015.
Detectives went on to uncover three illicit businesses dealing in heroin and crack cocaine, which were conducted almost exclusively over the phone.
The MD or Biggy line, which operated in The Wells Road area, the LD line, which ran exclusively in the Brewsters Road area, and another line, which dealt in the Sneinton area, and were identified and as a result the men were charged and convicted of conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.
All the men were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday June 30, 2016.
