Drug Dealer Slapped with £6,000 Payback Order After Cannabis Bust
A man caught with cannabis has been hit with a hefty payback order exceeding £6,000.
Cannabis Found After Crash
Joseph Cantwell, 23, was arrested on 19 March 2017 following a road traffic collision in Lunsford Lane, Larkfield. Police spotted a bag of cannabis he’d stashed in nearby bushes. The search didn’t stop there – further cannabis and nearly £6,000 in cash were uncovered at his car and home.
Suspended Jail Term and Cash Confiscation
Cantwell pled guilty to possession with intent to supply. On 20 December, Maidstone Crown Court handed him nine months in prison, suspended for two years. But that wasn’t all. At a confiscation hearing on 13 July 2018, Cantwell was ordered to cough up £6,060. That included the stolen cash from police and £100 found in his bank account.
Police Crackdown on Crime Profits
“At the conclusion of a criminal case, my investigators’ work continues,” said Detective Inspector Annie Clayton from 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, ensuring he doesn’t profit from his drug dealing. We’ll keep using the law to chase offenders and seize any cash or assets linked to criminal activity.”
