A drug gang member caught with huge quantities of drugs stashed on top of cupboards has been ordered to pay back more than £130,000 of his ill-gotten gains.
Stephen Edwards, from Bridgend , was one of two men jailed last year following raids where officers seized more than £100,000-worth of illegal drugs.
At a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday Edwards, 51, was ordered to pay back £131,080.
He must pay the money within three months or face an additional 12 months in prison.
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Police carried out drugs warrants at three addresses in North Cornelly on June 21 last year. They found drugs at two of those addresses with one of the properties being linked to Edwards.
In total the drugs found were estimated to have a street value of between £100,815 and £136,970. The haul included more than 16.5kg of amphetamine, with a street value of up to £74,320 and cocaine worth nearly £40,000. Heroin and cannabis were also discovered with the majority of the drugs found on top of cupboards in two bedrooms of the house linked to Edwards.
Detective Inspector Sarah Trigg said: “Edwards and his co-defendant worked together as an organised crime group who were involved in the large-scale supply of drugs in the Bridgend county borough area.
"Officers discovered a large quantity of Class A and B drugs during the investigation which thankfully will never make it onto our streets.
“Drug dealing will not be tolerated in Bridgend and our dedicated organised crime unit will continue to disrupt and dismantle this type of criminality in our communities.
“Our financial investigators are committed to investigating the financial affairs of criminals to ensure they do not benefit from their ill-gotten gains and I hope this sends a clear message to our communities that there is no benefit from a life of crime.
"The public can really help us by passing on any information about people who may be making a living off their criminal lifestyle. Generally these people are clearly seen to spend more than their apparent disposable income.”
