DRUGS baron Brian Charrington has had £2.2m found in the loft of his home during a Customs raid confiscated by a High Court judge.

The money, which with interest is now worth £3.5m, was found in the attic of the former car dealer's house in Weaverthorpe, Nunthorpe, near Middlesbrough, in 1992.

The High Court heard that the cash - in sterling and Swiss francs - was believed to have come from the proceeds of cocaine smuggling.

Mr Justice Collins granted the order on Wednesday to the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), using the agency's powers under the 2002 Proceeds of Crime Act.

He rejected a claim by Curtis Warren, one of Britain's most notorious drug barons, that the money was his.

Warren, 41, is serving a 12-year sentence in Holland for masterminding a £125m smuggling ring.

Both Charrington and Warren have now failed in legal moves to secure the cash, each claiming to be its legal owner.

The ARA's case was that Charrington was simply holding the cash to launder for Colombian Mario Halley.

It has already secured a civil recovery order for £32,000 raised from the sale of two luxury BMWs bought by Charrington with cash on behalf of Halley.

Jane Earl, director of ARA, said after the result: "We are absolutely delighted. This is the biggest civil recovery order we have obtained to date and marks the start of a number of cases which will be coming to court over the next few months.

"This result is another excellent example of the powers in the Proceeds of Crime Act hitting criminals where it hurts, in their pockets.

"This money was clearly the result of unlawful activity and has been taken out of the criminal economy and can be used instead in the fight against crime."

Charrington is in jail in Germany for unconnected drugs offences.