A dealer caught trying to dispose of drugs down the toilet has been ordered to give back more than £10,000 of the proceeds from his crimes.
Leon Wallace appeared nervous when he was found in the bathroom with a wet sleeve when Neighbourhood Op Reacher officers raided his home.
Police seized a quantity of drugs including heroin and cannabis and associated paraphernalia.
Thousands of pounds of cash and a number of luxury items including high-value clothing and jewellery were also recovered – a clear sign he spent the money from drug dealing on a lavish lifestyle.
Nottingham Crown Court ordered that £10,111.87 that was seized during the drug warrant in February could be kept to reinvest in policing as part of a forfeiture under the Misuse of Drugs Act. A proportion will be placed into a centralised fund, which is then shared amongst police forces across the county.
The warrant was obtained in February following an accumulation of intelligence in relation to Wallace being involved in drug dealing form his home and around the wider community.
The 20-year-old, from The Meadows, was remanded in custody and due to the overwhelming evidence obtained during the investigation he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
He pleaded guilty to possession of class A drugs, possession of criminal property and possession of a prohibited weapon (Taser). He has been sentenced to three years in prison after appearing in court on 28 May 2021.
Detective Constable Gav Harper, of Nottinghamshire Police, led the investigation. He said: “This is a great result which was only achievable due to the efforts of several policing teams working together.
“This sentence sends out a clear message to drug dealers that Nottinghamshire Police are actively targeting them and that when convicted the courts will impose serious custodial and financial penalties.
“Local neighbourhood teams and Operation Reacher are dedicated to acting on issues that matter to the local community. By listening to concerns and working with the community we see positive results.
“Officers seized heroin and cannabis and weapons during the search, which have now been taken out of circulation. Proactive policing, such as this, is taking place across the county and provides local communities the reassurance and confidence to report any concerns to us.”
