The head of a drugs gang which operated on an "industrial" scale was ordered to pay back a fraction of his multi-million pound empire.
Colin Jones, 52, appeared at Mold Crown Court via video link from prison where he is serving a 21-year sentence for running a County Lines operation using a lucrative "Echo Line". Liverpool man Jones used military encryption and lie detectors to help his gang flood North Wales and other parts of the country with millions of pounds of hard drugs from Merseyside.
Jones also conspired to cause grievous bodily harm after hatching a plot involving a firearm to harm a former gang member. The ECHO previously reported how North Wales Police carried out Operation Tide to bring down the gang.
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The case involved an "industrial" and "nationwide" scale of criminal activity stretching from Liverpool and Connah's Quay to Devon, Cornwall and Scotland. Judge Niclas Parry previously said their scale had an "unusual magnitude."
He added: "The harm that has been done to communities - and I have particular regard for north east Wales - is incalculable." The police probe found over 5kgs of heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine, 54kgs of Class A mixing agents and about 43,000 Etizolam tablets.
Jones was the "mastermind" behind the 18-man operation and orchestrated the supply of £2m worth of drugs. He owned two houses, three holiday homes and several high value cars. Around £58,000 in cash was found in his properties.
North Wales Live reported Jones' court appearance on Friday, April 21 lasted just five minutes where Judge Parry accepted the defendant had a total financial benefit of just over £2,337,130. It was accepted he only had £534, 115 - made up of various assets - that could be recovered by the authorities.
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