Drug gang leader ordered to pay back £500,000

The man who ran a drugs empire in Hertfordshire used the proceeds to travel to Paris, Jamaica and New York. Credit: Hertfordshire Police
The man who ran a drugs empire in Hertfordshire used the proceeds to travel to Paris, Jamaica and New York. Credit: PA

A man who used the profits of the illegal drugs trade to travel the world has had a confiscation order made against him for £500,000.

Christopher Collins, 30, from Hitchin, led a drugs empire supplying class A and class B drugs in North Hertfordshire, Stevenage, and Luton.

He was jailed for 12 years in April 2015.

Following a financial investigation by the Regional Economic Crime Unit, a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act has been made which allows for the seizure of assets up to the value of £500,000.

So far Collins has been ordered to pay back £26,00, which is the total sum of his assets available currently.

But police say the outstanding balance will remain against him for the rest of his life and if further assets are identified then steps will be taken to confiscate them.

Fifteen other members of the drugs gang have also had confiscation orders made against them totalling £400,000. The group were jailed for more than 50 years in total.