Permission to confiscate almost £400,000 from two people convicted of a huge operation to deal cocaine in Yorkshire has been granted by the courts.
At Bradford Crown Court yesterday (Thursday) Richard Brown and Julie Firth had Proceeds of Crime orders totalling £380,000 and £19,000 served on them respectively by His Honour Judge Burn.
Brown, aged 57, of Lincombe Drive in Gledhow, Leeds, was jailed for ten years and three months in January 2018 after he pleaded to conspiring to supply cocaine.
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Firth, aged 51, of Farfield Crescent in Bradford, was given a suspended sentence in November 2018, after she was found guilty of being an occupier of a premises for the supply of Class A drugs.
Both were given three months to pay and default sentences of two years and six months respectively, if they fail to meet these conditions.
They were among six defendants convicted under Operation Fiveward, which was launched in August 2017 when several vehicles and residences in Doncaster and Bradford were searched as part of a pre-planned operation by West Yorkshire Police.
Officers seized a large amount of cocaine and amphetamine with a combined ‘street value’ in excess of £324,000.
The defendants, all of whom have now had Proceeds of Crime orders obtained against them, received sentences of more than 40 years following their convictions in 2018.
Financial Investigation Manager, David Charity, said: “These confiscation orders bring Operation Fiveward to a successful conclusion.
“Brown is now facing a significant prison sentence and the loss of his assets.
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“This is testament to a thorough investigation by a number of departments working towards our commitment under Programme Precision to tackle serious and organised crime in West Yorkshire.
“West Yorkshire Police will continue to work with the Crown Prosecution Service to seize assets from criminals to send out a warning to all that crime does not pay.”
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