Drug dealer found with Rolex watches and jewellery ordered to pay back £100,000

A drug dealer found with luxury items including Rolex watches and jewellery has been ordered to pay back £100,000. He was ordered to pay the sum despite making almost double the amount from selling MDMA, cocaine, cannabis, and ketamine.

Hiral Patel, 39, was in his green Mercedes-Benz when he was pulled over by police in Cardiff at around 11.30pm on April 9, 2019, after he was seen by police driving at speed. He then pulled up outside a house in Cathays and attempted to carry out a drug deal.

The defendant gave his parents' address in Cowbridge before giving his real address at Curran Embankment in Butetown. A search of the property resulted in the discovery of 416 MDMA tablets, 2.6oz of powdered MDMA, 3g of cocaine, 1.6oz of skunk, and 6.6oz of ketamine. The drugs had a street value between £6,854 and £10,797.

Drugs found at the Cardiff flat of Hiral Patel (South Wales Police)

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Also found were two Rolex watches, a Raymond Weil watch, a diamond ring, a diamond brooch, eight pairs of Nike trainers, and £16,139 in cash. Patel pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs and possession of criminal property. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment in March 2021.

Cash found at the Cardiff flat of Hiral Patel (South Wales Police)

A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday, December 20, heard Patel benefited to the tune of £197,001 as a result of drug dealing. But the assets available to the defendant were worth £102,043.

Recorder Greg Bull KC ordered Patel to pay £102,043 within three months. If he fails to pay the sum he will be sentenced to three years imprisonment in default.

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