A Dundee man has been ordered to forfeit more than £45,000 found during a police raid of his home.
The cash was seized from Stuart Johnston along with controlled drugs and what officers called a ”massive amount” of high-value goods, including jewellery and perfume.
Johnston claimed to be unemployed and living on state benefits.
Following the search in January, Tayside Police passed the case on to the Civil Recovery Unit, which makes sure people do not benefit from the proceeds of their crimes.
The CRU raised a legal action at Dundee Sheriff Court, asking for the £45,798.45 in cash to be forfeited.
They argued the money had been derived from unlawful conduct, specifying drug dealing, the sale and supply of contraband tobacco and the reset of stolen goods.
CRU head Ruaraidh Macniven said: ”Thanks to excellent police work on the part of Tayside Police, the court had no hesitation in concluding this cash was derived from crime.
”A sum of cash has been forfeited for the public benefit instead of being available for those who commit crime in our communities.
”The forfeited cash will now go to the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities programme, which funds activities for young people in Scotland.”
Mr Macniven said the CRU would continue to use civil proceedings to disrupt crime and make Scotland a hostile place for those who benefit from unlawful activity.
Detective Chief Inspector Graham McMillan, from Tayside Police’s crime and intelligence division, said: ”This is an excellent example of our frontline uniformed officers dealing with local community concerns regarding drug-related anti-social behaviour.
”They had the knowledge and presence of mind to realise they had recovered significant cash and assets were potentially criminally obtained.
”Thereafter they sought specialist support from the Tayside Police financial intelligence unit.
”Our unit, along with the CRU, brought about the stripping of ill-gotten gains from a criminal enterprise to help divert and benefit youths in Tayside and Scotland and help them lead a more positive life in the future.”
The forfeiture order was granted by the court last month. Johnston had 30 days in which to lodge an appeal, but the deadline passed without him doing so.
Courts have the power to order people to hand over money and other assets thanks to the Proceeds of Crime Act, which came into force in 2003.