Confiscation order of £560k made against drug gang

Confiscation orders totalling £563,140,88 have been made against four men who ran a 'substantial and sophisticated drug dealing network' in Reading.

Operation Endurance, an intelligence-led drugs surveillance and purchase operation was carried out by officers at Mandela Court and Arthur Place in Orts Road, Reading on May 10-11, 2011.

A series of warrants were executed at locations in the area, resulting in 20 people being arrested and charged with conspiracy to supply the class B drug cannabis.

Evidence was obtained, including cash and drugs, with an estimated street value of £63,000.

Following a trial the four organisers of the operation Paul Jump, 47, from Arthur Place, Paul Sterling, 56, from Mandela Court, Warren Parkes, 45, from Arthur Place and Nicholas Walker, 38, from Avon Place, were convicted.

They were sentenced on December 15 to prison terms between seven years and nine months and nine years. Other members of the gang were convicted separately.

Orders were made against Jump for £100,000, Sterling for £191,452.85, Parkes for £139,242.85 and Walker for £132,445.18.

They have been given six months to pay or face additional sentences of between two years and two years and six months.

In addition, cash seized from Jump and Sterling, totalling £183,116.90, which was subject to a Forfeiture Order made by the court in February 2012, brought the total of the orders made against the men to nearly £750,000.

Financial Investigator at the Thames Valley Police Economic Crime Unit, Phillip Croxson, said: "This was a substantial and sophisticated drug dealing network which had been operating for many years, generating huge revenues.

"It was estimated that the gross takings amounted to over £9,500 per day, although there were various overheads as with a legitimate business.

"While the proceeds were largely untraceable, and may indeed have been removed from the country, the court has nevertheless made substantial orders against the organisers in addition to the lengthy prison sentences imposed."