Wages of sin

POLICE targeting one of Worthing's notorious drugs barons found £18,000 stashed away at home.

Wads of cash were found in a plastic Co-op bag, pictured here, bearing the logo: Our packaging tells you the WHOLE TRUTH.

Officers seized the cash from the suspect, a labourer in his 20s, and can hold it for up to two years.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

If they can prove the haul came as a result of crime, he will never see the money again.

Officers found this bundle after searching a Worthing town centre flat.

They were called to the address twice earlier this month after neighbours reported a disturbance.

But when officers got there they noticed a "strong" smell of cannabis in the air.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Magistrates granted police a search warrant and they returned the following day to discover 7,000 stashed in the Co-op carrier bag.

Laws introduced in 2002 mean police can seize a minimum of 5,000 cash made by criminal gangs.

Earlier this year, police found cannabis, ecstasy and almost 11,000 in bags and shoe boxes at four

Worthing addresses belonging to the man's family.

Police were due at appear at Worthing Magistrates' Court to apply to keep the money for at least a further three months as the Herald went to print.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sergeant Andrew Westwood was one of the officers who found the money.

He said: "If we suspect that their assets have come from illegal activity we can seize them so we can investigate where they've come from. It is unlikely that whatever house you go in you are going to find 7,000 in a Co-op bag."