Paul Fleming, jailed for drug smuggling from South America, must repay over £125k after earning £1.8m from the crime.
Fleming ran a scheme to bring cocaine into Scotland from Brazil, Colombia, and Bolivia. The court ordered him to pay £125,970.96; his criminal activity earned him £1,841,903.69. This ruling happened on February 24, 2025.
The court can change the order later if they find more assets. These assets would go toward the full amount he owes. The confiscated assets include cash found at his home, valuable watches, and goods.
Officials say these orders disrupt crime and help target those profiting illegally. The Crown can seize future money and property to pay back what Fleming gained illegally. They will seek court orders to confiscate illegal funds. If he gets more money or things later, they can increase the order.
They aim to recover the full amount from his crimes, with recovered money going back into communities through the Cashback for Communities program. Fleming also created a fake firm to smuggle drugs from Spain, hiding them inside solar panels headed to Scotland.
His plans failed after arrests and convictions linked to his drug and money activity. Police operations revealed the extent of his crimes; these operations were called Operation Fertile and Operation Buggy. Fleming left Scotland for Spain with his family after police arrested him and his wife in 2018.
Police found £37,000 in his car and luxury watches worth £50,000 at his home. A large operation followed with police and Spanish officials. Fleming was arrested in Alicante in June 2022 and sent back to Scotland in March 2023.