Police in Cornwall seize 200 cannabis plants and £150,000 under proceeds of Crime Act

Police in Cornwall seize 200 cannabis plants and £150,000

Police financial investigators in Cornwall have had a number of recent successes in seizing substantial financial assets under the proceeds of Crime Act.

In excess of £150,000 has been seized following three successful cases brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The force will benefit from these successful seizures with a total of £29,000 being returned to the force for use in crime investigation or prevention.

On Friday November 7 a confiscation order was made against Paul Pitchell, 47, following his conviction for the production of cannabis.

This followed the execution of a Misuse of Drugs Act warrant at his home in Goonhavern near Truro when in excess of 200 cannabis plants were seized. 

During the investigation it was established that he owned a property which he subsequently sold.

As a result the proceeds of the sale totalling £52,565 were restrained and the Court made a confiscation order for this amount.

On February 14, 2013, police attended a property in Fernhill Road, Newquay following a report of water running out of the front door.

On attendance the premises were locked but police obtained access and officers discovered the upstairs of the premises turned over to the growing of cannabis, using lights, fans, transformers, and timers. The water had been left on, causing a flood.

Robert Dewick was identified as the owner and was later interviewed when he stated he was growing the plants for his own use.

He maintained that money in his possession in the region of £70,000 was the proceeds of his business in selling hydroponic equipment.

A restraint order under the proceeds of Crime Act was obtained in order to preserve the money for future confiscation.

Following a court hearing on August 1 Dewick, 35, was convicted of production of cannabis and sentenced to 30 months imprisonment.

Following this confiscation, proceedings took place and on November 29 a confiscation order was made by Truro Crown Court in respect of Dewick for the sum of £67,448.20.

On January 5, 2007, Marc Rebeiro, 35, from Penzance was convicted of 12 offences of deception and two offences of money laundering.

Confiscation proceedings followed and his benefit was identified as £35,200.80. However at that time his only available assets were £173.15. A confiscation order was made in those terms and the £173.15 was paid.

Over six years later, on September 8, police came into possession of additional information identifying that Rebeiro was now in possession of significant assets held in the form a car, a property and money in bank accounts.

A further hearing to revisit the original confiscation was held at Truro Crown Court on Monday, December 1, and a new and updated confiscation order was made and monies totalling £35,026.15 was seized.

Lynn Manaton, a financial investigator based in Cornwall, said: "These cases highlight the successful work of the financial investigation team and the determination wherever possible to seize the assets of criminals, which in some cases are considerable, and prevent them from benefiting from their criminal activity."

http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/11646766.Police_in_Cornwall_seize_200_cannabis_plants_and___150_000_under_proceeds_of_Crime_Act/ 05/12/2014