Confiscation order secured against former OCG member jailed for drugs and firearms offences

A former OCG member has now been ordered to pay back millions of pounds under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Asim Tufail, 53, of Kenmore Road, Northenden, was sentenced to 23 years in prison in April 2024 after being found guilty of blackmail, conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited weapons, and money laundering. Tufail's drugs and firearms deals were uncovered by NWROCU detectives when the encrypted communications platform ‘EncroChat’ was taken down by international law enforcement in 2020. 

Yesterday (Thursday 6 November) he appeared in court again where a confiscation order of £2,615,023.80 was agreed. This included significant hidden assets.

The court heard that NWROCU's Economic Crime Unit pursued confiscation proceedings against Asim Tufail due to his criminal activity.

Tufail must now pay the full £2,615,023.80 within six months or face a default sentence of an additional nine years imprisonment.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Maddocks at the NWROCU said:

"This case sends a clear message that corruption at any level will not be tolerated. Tufail may have believed he could of profited from the crime groups supply of drugs and firearms, but in reality he now has been caught, convicted and stripped of his illicit gains.

"Our efforts don't end with a conviction. We remain committed to pursuing and recovering criminal assets to ensure offenders do not benefit from their crimes.