Car dealer caught with 4kg of cocaine ordered to pay £82,500

A car dealer from Port Talbot has been ordered to pay back £82,528 after being caught with more than four kilograms of cocaine in his self-storage unit.

Wales Online reports that earlier this year, John Joseph Kear, aged 56, was sentenced to seven years and two months in prison after a police raid at MyBox Storage in Baglan uncovered a significant stash of drugs.

Officers found a 249g block of compressed cocaine with an exceptionally high purity of 84%, as well as four separate packages containing just under one kilogram each of powdered cocaine.

The powder, with a standard purity of 10%, was ready for further distribution. Police also found a pair of black latex gloves and documents in Kear's name, linking him to the rental of the storage unit.

At the time of his sentencing, Kear's defence barrister told the court that his client had agreed to store the cocaine on behalf of others "in a moment of weakness and stupidity." The drugs were allegedly not his, but Kear accepted responsibility for his involvement in the operation.

During the investigation, police visited Kear’s home, where he made an unsuccessful attempt to destroy evidence by trying to "drown" his mobile phones in the kitchen sink, hoping to prevent officers from accessing the data stored on the devices.

Kear, who had previously pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, and possession of criminal property (referring to the cash found in his coat), was hit with the financial penalty after the court heard he had profited substantially from his criminal activities.

The confiscation order was issued under the Proceeds of Crime Act following an investigation by financial authorities which estimated that Kear had benefited to the tune of £621,566. However, only £82,528 in assets were available for confiscation.

At the Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, Judge Catherine Richards ruled that Kear must pay that sum which included assets identified by investigators.

Kear’s criminal history spans several decades and includes 21 previous convictions for 58 offences including money laundering in connection with a large-scale drug supply operation in south west Wales.