A convicted drug dealer jailed for the supply of high-purity cocaine has been ordered to pay back his ill-gotten gains.

Jahangir Bararjani's high-value Range Rover has been confiscated under a package of measures made against him, under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Bararjani received a six-year prison sentence at Newcastle Crown Court in April last year when a judge ordered a financial investigation into his illicit dealings.

The court heard that officers from Northumbria Police had been at Barajani’s home address carrying out inquiries when they came across a shoe box containing less than a kilo of the Class A drug, believed to have a street value of up to £22,000, as well as scales, bags and other paraphernalia associated with dealing.

Read more: County Durham drug dealer ordered to pay more than £21,000

Suspecting his involvement in the illegal supply of drugs, they arrested him and seized a number of items, including his £48,500-valued Range Rover, under the Proceeds of Crime Act regulations.

When the 38-year-old was later convicted, financial investigators compiled a detailed inquiry into his means, which was put before the courts, citing evidence from Bararjani’s devices, which revealed he had earned more than £290,000 from his shady activities.

In January this year the case was brought back to court, where a confiscation hearing was told the total benefit from his criminal conduct was put at £313,832.

The judge also ordered the immediate sale of Bararjani’s only remaining asset, the seized Range Rover.

Although that left much of the benefit figure outstanding, the order will remain in place until the debt is paid in full, meaning any future earnings or assets will be taken by the court.  

Following the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Chris Riley, who runs Northumbria Police’s Financial Investigation Unit, praised his team’s thorough work, and their ongoing commitment to tackling serious and organised crime.

Read more: Stanley man ran lucrative trade selling class C drugs, plus cannabis

“A huge part of dismantling organised crime groups is to take away their precious assets, which is what our financial investigators do so well,” he said.

“Thanks to the hard work carried out by our colleagues from CID, who uncovered evidence of Bararjani’s drug dealing, including a number of high value seizures, he was subsequently jailed.

“Our skilled investigators were then able to comb though his financial records, telecoms data and a whole host of other evidence, which they were then able to present before the courts showing that Bararjani has made a considerable amount of money from his illegal and shameful dealings.

“It is only right that we continue to go after criminals and strip them of every penny a life of crime has afforded them.

“It is not right that those who break the law are able to live in big houses or drive luxury cars purchased with ill-gotten gains.

Read next:

               Courier stopped by police in County Durham with drug consignment

               Spennymoor cocaine dealer is serving a 54-month sentence imposed earlier this year

               Leader behind cannabis grow in Peterlee has over £300k confiscated

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“As part of Operation Sentinel, we will continue to pursue offenders after they’ve been convicted to make sure they are stripped of any assets their criminal antics have enabled them to acquire, under the Proceeds of Crime Act.”

He urged anyone with information relating to such activities in the community to report suspicious behaviour via the ‘Tell us Something’ page on the force website.

Alternatively, reports can be made anonymously to Crimestoppers, by calling (0800)