Drug trafficker stripped of assets

21 December 2011

A convicted drug trafficker has been ordered to pay back £704,394 in illicit profits following an extensive investigation by SOCA.

His Honour Judge Clarke, sitting at Liverpool Crown Court, ordered Peter Fury to pay the Confiscation Order within 12 months or serve four years in default. Even then he would still be liable for the money.

Fury, who is 43, was jailed for ten years in 1995 for possession of amphetamine with intent to supply. At the subsequent confiscation hearing he was ordered to hand over £50,375, which was paid.

This latest confiscation order follows his 2008 conviction for drug-related money laundering, for which he received a two-year sentence. The figure includes assets and funds he successfully concealed from the courts first time around and continued to control from inside prison with the assistance of family members and other professionals.

Regional Head of Investigations, Steve Baldwin, said:

"SOCA is determined to strip criminals of their lifestyle. Now it's time for Peter Fury to hand back his illicit profits, and convicted drug traffickers like him should take this as a hard lesson."

The judge also placed a Financial Reporting Order on Fury, which means he will be forced to provide his financial details to SOCA on a regular basis for the next nine years.

Alun Milford, head of the CPS Organised Crime Division said:

“We worked closely with SOCA not only to bring about a successful prosecution but also to ensure Peter Fury did not profit from his criminal enterprises. It is clear from his realisable assets that Fury has enjoyed an extremely comfortable lifestyle and we will work vigorously to ensure he pays the court’s order. ”

For more information on confiscation orders visit our asset recovery page.

For more on Financial Reporting Orders visit our new approaches page.