Crime gang members ordered to pay back £1.6 million
19 June 2019, 16:07
Two members of what was described as Scotland's "most sophisticated" criminal gang have been ordered to pay back £1.6 million.
Anthony Woods and Francis Mulligan were jailed in January 2018 after admitting multiple charges linked to serious organised crime.
Woods, 45, was sentenced to 11 years and one month in prison - which was reduced by 28 months in June - while Mulligan, 43, was handed a sentence of eight years and 324 days.
At the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday, the pair were made subject of a confiscation order, giving the Crown the power to seize money gained through organised crime by taking future money and assets they acquire.
There is £875,070.11 currently available from Woods, while Mulligan has £810,108.83.
Procurator fiscal for specialist casework Jennifer Harrower said: "This should serve as a warning to anyone involved in financial crime linked to serious organisation crime that we will not stop at prosecution.
"Even after a conviction is secured, the Crown will continue to use the proceeds of crime legislation to ensure that funds obtained through this type of crime are confiscated from those who do not deserve them.
"This order sends out a strong message about our determination to disrupt serious and organised crime as a member of Scotland's
Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce.
"The £1.6 million recovered from Woods and Mulligan will be added to those already gathered from proceeds of crime and will be reinvested in Scottish communities through the CashBack for Communities programme."
