A group of criminals who ran cannabis farms in Kent, Essex and Hertfordshire have been ordered to pay back over £1 million that they made from their illegal activities.
The confiscation orders were issued at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday 28 July 2023, following an investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate into the large scale supply of cannabis.
The gang members were Ylber Perhati, 39, from Rainham, East London, Drilon Dishi, 37, of no fixed address, David Toal, 50, from Hertfordshire and Brooklyn Selita, 19, from Harrow were all jailed for a total of more than 37 years in 2021.
Officers discovered that they had been operating cannabis farms in Ashford, Canvey Island and Hertfordshire.
Financial investigators used the Proceeds of Crime Act to apply for the confiscation of cash and assets. They also forfeited an additional £9,000 in cash.
The money will be shared between operational agencies, including Kent Police under the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS).
A man aged 29, from Rainham, East London and another aged 34, from Ashford, were also ordered to pay back a nominal amount and the Act allows officers to continue to monitor any assets that they may have until all the money they may have earned through their offending is paid back.
The gang members were given deadlines to pay back the money or face more time in prison.
Detective Inspector David Godfrey said: ‘This successful application under the Proceeds of Crime Act means that this gang will be unable to profit from their ill-gotten gains.
‘The money had been gained from an illegal industry that has a detrimental impact on the communities we serve so this case should act as a warning to all those aiming to benefit financially from criminal activities that you will be caught and any money gained unlawfully will be taken from you.’