A north Kent drug dealer who used an encrypted mobile network and a hidden electronic car compartment to run his illicit trade has been ordered to hand over more than £72,000 of his criminal profits.
Julian Warrick, 56, was originally jailed for over ten years in June 2023 after admitting his role in an organised crime group. Following a thorough financial investigation by Kent Police, a judge at Maidstone Crown Court has now granted a confiscation order, giving Warrick just three months to pay £72,539 or face an extra 15 months behind bars.
The seasoned criminal’s downfall began in March 2021 when police spotted him parked suspiciously close to another vehicle in Maplehurst Close, Dartford. Upon arresting Warrick, officers discovered £4,000 in cash in his pocket and three mobile phones alongside an encrypted handset inside his Mercedes. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed a sophisticated, empty hide behind the rear seats, operated by an electronic switch.
While Warrick’s secret compartment was empty, a matching hidden space in the neighbouring vehicle yielded seven bags of cocaine. Weighing roughly 7oz, the seized class A drugs carried an estimated street value of between £7,000 and £14,000. Detectives later raided a property in Erith linked to Warrick, uncovering further cash, additional quantities of cocaine, and a commercial money-counting machine.
The Digital Trail: International law enforcement agencies intercepted messages on EncroChat, a highly secure, encrypted messaging service favoured by criminal networks. These logs proved Warrick had conspired to distribute substantial amounts of cocaine between March and June 2020.
Warrick, formerly of Regent Square in Belvedere, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and possession of criminal property. Although he is currently serving his ten-year and ten-month sentence, financial investigators successfully tracked down his remaining available assets to claw back the proceeds of his crimes. Under the strict terms of the court order, he remains liable for the full sum even if he serves the additional prison time.
Detective Inspector David Godfrey said:
‘Our financial investigators will leave no stone unturned when it comes to looking at how much money criminals like Warrick have made through their illegal activities.
‘Drugs create misery for vulnerable people, so it is only right that convicted drug dealers should not be left with a life of luxury funded through the sale of cocaine. Using powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act, the courts can remove any remaining assets or funds still owned by a criminal.
‘When Warrick was arrested, police found he had a money counting machine, but his reality now is that thanks to our skilled investigators, he is having to face the real cost of breaking the law.’