Kent Drug Dealer Slapped with £6,000 Cash Confiscation – Crime Doesn’t Pay!
A Kent drug dealer has been hit hard after cops seized thousands in cash linked to his illegal activities. Joseph Cantwell, 23, was caught red-handed with cannabis and now faces a hefty bill – proving once again that dealing drugs simply doesn’t pay.
Hidden Cannabis Leads to Arrest
It all began on 19 March 2017 when police stopped Cantwell following a road collision on Lunsford Lane, Larkfield. Officers discovered a stash of cannabis hidden in nearby bushes. But that was just the start.
A thorough search of Cantwell’s car and home uncovered even more cannabis and nearly £6,000 in cash.
Sentenced and Ordered to Pay Back Thousands
Cantwell pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply. On 20 December, Maidstone Crown Court sentenced him to nine months in prison – suspended for two years.
But Cantwell’s troubles didn’t end there. On 13 July 2018, at a confiscation hearing, he was ordered to pay back £6,060. This included the cash seized on the day of his arrest and an extra £100 from his bank account.
Detective Inspector Vows Crackdown on Drug Money
“At the conclusion of a criminal case, my investigators work continues,” said Detective Inspector Annie Clayton of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.
“This man has been ordered to pay back this money as part of the Proceeds of Crime Act which ensures he did not financially benefit from his drug dealing activity.
“We will continue to use legislation to pursue offenders and seize any cash or assets that we can prove they have obtained through criminal behaviour.”
Cantwell’s case sends a clear message to drug dealers – crime doesn’t pay, and the long arm of the law will go after every penny earned from illegal dealings.
