Andrew Ross, of Hawarden, Flintshire, admitted conspiring to smuggle cocaine

One of the leaders of a drugs gang now serving a 10-year jail sentence made £1.4m smuggling cocaine into north Wales, a court heard.

Andrew Ross, of Hawarden, Flintshire, admitted conspiring to smuggle cocaine at Mold Crown Court in 2009.

Following an investigation into his assets, Ross will have £20,000 seized under proceeds of crime laws, a judge at Mold decided on Monday.

The rest of the money can be pursued if Ross comes into funds in future.

A second member of the gang, who made £620,000, was given a confiscation order for £1,689.

Keiran Foulkes, of Halkyn, Flintshire, had previously been sentenced to 18 months after admitting being involved in supplying cocaine.

Again, the rest of the money can also be pursued in future.

Nine members of the gang were jailed in September 2009 for a total of more than 44 years.

The court was told that Ross, helped by others, organised the distribution of cocaine.

Drugs went from Rhyl, Denbighshire, to Anglesey and also into Flintshire, where they were further diluted at a house in Halkyn.

Telephone records
Ross was said to be one of the driving forces behind the conspiracy.

Police kept watch over many months, and officers produced telephone records which showed contact between defendants at crucial times.

The financial hearing under The Proceeds of Crime Act was told that Ross made £1.4m from drugs supply.

The confiscation order to the value of £20,325 was based on items police seized during the investigation.

He was given six months to pay or serve an additional 14 months in default.

Posted in: admitted conspiring to smuggle cocaine,Andrew Ross,Flintshire,of Hawarden