Confiscation Order made against convicted Wirral drug supplier

We are welcoming a Confiscation Order made against a Wirral drug supplier prosecuted under Operation Venetic, an international operation targeting criminals who used a mobile encryption service to try to evade detection.
 
The order was made at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, Thursday 26 September, and means that Bradley Luxton, now 37, was found to have benefited from his criminality to the value of £1,363,216.88 and has been ordered to pay back £289,987.33.
 
Luxton is currently serving a 16 year prison sentence after pleading guilty in 2021 to three counts of Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, two counts of Conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and Converting criminal property.
 
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Dalton from our Economic Crime Unit said: “This outcome shows that our work in retrieving the proceeds of serious and organised crime does not stop when criminals are sent to prison. 
 
“Convicted criminals should pay every price for using criminal money to fund their lifestyle, and for the damage they cause to our communities. Our Financial Investigators meticulously work in securing as much as possible in criminal assets and should Luxton not repay the amount, he will serve extra jail time.
 
“I hope his incarceration and this additional punishment will send a clear message that crime does not pay, and we are committed to stopping those who try to profit from the sale of illegal drugs.
 
“Despite the increasing number of people sentenced for these crimes across Merseyside our work still continues along with law enforcement agencies across the world, to pursue anyone who tries to forge a lifestyle that destroys lives and families.
 
“The proceeds recovered at court will be of great benefit when invested back into community initiatives to help prevent crime and protect the most vulnerable. We will keep publicising these initiatives too, so local organisations can get involved and see that ill-gotten gains are returned to good people.”
 
If you have any information about suspected drug supply where you are, please contact @MerPolCC, call 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.