Ryan Palin utilised the EncroChat handle “Titch.com” in order to arrange the supply of 700kg of the class A drug, as well as 40kg of amphetamine, before the encrypted communications platform was infiltrated by French police during 2020.
The 38-year-old, of Mereworth in Caldy, Wirral, was previously jailed for 29 years after being convicted of conspiracy to supply the two illicit substances. His case was brought back before Liverpool Crown Court this morning, Wednesday, for an application under the Proceeds of Crime Act, reported the Liverpool Echo.
Alex Leach KC, prosecuting, detailed how Palin benefited to the tune of £8,670,674.91 from his drug dealing activities and currently has £1,078,358.91 in available assets, comprising of his 58 per cent stake in his home address. His parents were also said to have an eight per cent interest in the property.
Rebecca Thomas, defending, confirmed that these figures had been agreed, and the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC therefore made a seizure order in these amounts.
However, sums up to the higher value could be recovered from him in the future.
Palin, who was no present during today’s hearing, was given three months to pay, and will face an additional 10 years behind bars in default if he fails to do so.
The judge said: “I am satisfied that the defendant has benefited from his criminal conduct to the total amount of £8,670,674.91.
“There are available assets in the sum of £1,078,358.91. I find that the defendant, Mr Palin, has a 58 per cent beneficial interest in the current or former matrimonial home at Mereworth on the Wirral and that his parents have an eight per cent beneficial interest in the same property.”
Palin was brought down following a joint operation between Merseyside Police, the National Crime Agency, the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit and European law enforcement agencies.
Detective Sergeant Graeme Kehoe said following his sentencing in 2022: “We welcome the verdict and sentence and now that Ryan Palin is behind bars and can no longer peddle huge amounts of drugs and misery on the streets of Merseyside and beyond.
“Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Palin chose to go to trial. Fortunately, the jury saw through his lies and Palin can now consider the consequences of his actions while he serves a significant time in jail.
“Palin’s substantial sentence should serve as a stark warning to anyone involved in this criminality that there are serious consequences.
“We simply won’t let people live off the profits of criminality while our law-abiding communities work hard to make an honest living. We will find you and bring you to justice.
“Merseyside Police, along with law enforcement agencies across the world, will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of those people who think they are above the law, and we will continue to target anyone involved in serious organised crime to keep this positive momentum going.
We rely on our local communities to be our eyes and ears as part of these investigations, and I would continue to urge people to come forward if they have information which could assist us.”