Northumbria Police financial detectives have seized more than £200,000 in a month, which was accumulated through criminal activity in the region.
Investigators from the Force's Crime department obtained a total of nine forfeiture orders, resulting the seizures of £209,066 in March alone. The criminal cash was ruled to be the proceeds of fraud, money-laundering, drugs offences and the sale of illegal tobacco.
And one of those issued with a confiscation order was Wearside drug dealer Leighton Hackett who was ordered to pay back £47,173 within 30 days.
