Blackpool drugs conspiracy ringleader made more than £1m from his crimes, court rules

Anthony Gill, 35, formerly of Worcester Road, Manchester, has been ordered by Judge Richard Gioserano to pay back his only assets, amounting to £39,787.38.

The authorities can also revisit his finances in the future.

Gill and his brother Bradley headed an organised crime group which coordinated the supply of 'significant amounts' of class A and B drugs in the North West with accomplices.

Their activities prompted Lancashire Police probe Operation Jennet, an investigation into the large scale supply of cocaine and cannabis and money laundering on the Fylde coast.

During the probe, approximately six kilos of cocaine and a ¼ of a kilo of amphetamine - said to be worth around £700,000 - and £122,000 in cash were seized.

Police said these seizures only represented a snapshot of the true scale of the drug dealing with which the defendants were involved during the conspiracy period, as the gang is believed to be responsible for bringing drugs totalling millions of pounds into the resort.

Anyone convicted of a crime can be ordered to pay in a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, in which a judge decides how much the person benefited by, and how much is available at present to seize in cash and assets.

A defendant might face further time in prison if they fail to pay.

If a defendant is found to have no assets, the court may make a nominal order of £1 - but the authorities can still revisit a person's finances in future.

Several of Gill's co-defendants have already had similar financial confiscation orders made against them.

Gill appeared before the Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Preston Crown Court by a video link from HMP Berwyn.

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