A convicted drug dealer from Ditton has been stripped of luxury watches, including Rolex and Cartier models, as part of a £60,000 asset seizure under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Michael Wheaton, 42, who is currently serving an 11-year sentence for his role in a large-scale cocaine supply network, saw his ill-gotten gains confiscated following a court hearing.
Wheaton’s downfall began in January 2019 when a vehicle driven by an associate was stopped on the M20, revealing nearly 1.5 kilograms of cocaine. Subsequent investigations linked Wheaton to a burner phone traced to a petrol station near his London Road home. A raid on his property two months later resulted in the discovery of almost £10,000 in cash.
Despite pleading not guilty, Wheaton was convicted at Canterbury Crown Court in April 2024. Following the trial, Kent Police financial investigators meticulously examined his personal and business accounts, identifying sham companies used to launder drug money.
On March 20, 2025, a confiscation hearing determined that Wheaton possessed £57,125 in recoverable assets, which were immediately seized.
Detective Chief Inspector Helen Smithers said:
‘The Proceeds of Crime Act remains one of our biggest weapons against those who fund a lifestyle from crime. It enables police to claw back any ill-gotten gains from offenders, by allowing us to seize cash, cars and even lavish homes which may have been funded by crime.
‘Powers derived from the Act can also mean that a criminal continues to pay for his or their crimes long after they have even been released from prison and allow us to recover further assets if they are identified in the future.’