A MERSEYSIDE drugs boss, currently serving 16 years imprisonment, has been ordered to hand over more than a third of a million pounds – or face a further 3½ years in jail.

Paul Allen, 38, was one of 14 men jailed in June at Liverpool Crown Court for their involvement in a multi- million pound drugs importation and supply plot which was smashed after police bugged a car owned by one of the organisers in Formby Hall Golf Club car park.

The drugs – heroin, cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis – were seized in locations from as far away as Holland, Cumbria, Staffordshire, Lancashire and Merseyside.

On May 17 last year, police found heroin worth £3.5m destined for the UK in a warehouse in Rotterdam, but it is believed there was at least one other importation.

Most of the gang lived in Crosby and Bootle and one of the main plotters, Gary Shields, owned a restaurant called Sands Bistro, in Bridge Road, Crosby, which some of the conspirators used for meetings.

They were arrested after the drugs importation and supply ring was smashed following a joint investigation by Merseyside Police's crime operations unit and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency.

Detectives had placed surveillance equipment in an Audi car owned by Brian Graham, who is also serving a 14-year sentence, so that investigators were able to overhear his conversations.

In total, drugs worth more than £4m were seized along with £330,000 cash.

A confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act has now been held at the same court, and as a result more than £519,000 has been ordered to be handed over by ten members of the gang, though three of them only have to pay £1.

Allen, of Partridge Road, Blundellsands, Crosby, who was Shields’s co-organiser, benefited by £1.7m. He was found to have realisable assets of £382,285 and, unless this is paid within six months, he will have to serve an additional 3½ years in prison.

Another organiser, Brian Graham, 50, of Parkway, Crosby, who is serving 14 years, was found to have benefited by £209,460, but he has no realisable assets and an order in the nominal sum of £1 was made.

At the same hearing, it was agreed that Robert Loughlin, 43, of Nicholas Road, Crosby, who is serving 15 years, had benefited by £965,189 and he has been ordered to hand over £23,877. If he does not do so he will have to stay behind bars for an extra 18 months.

Philip Tait, 38, of Vaux Crescent, Bootle, who is serving five years, benefited by £71,956 and he has realisable assets of £16,831. He risks nine more months if he does not comply with the confiscation order.

Angela Blackhurst, 45, who lives with Brian Graham, and who received four years, benefited by £27,635 but only has £58 in assets. Francis Howard, 36, of The Northern Road, Crosby, who got seven years, has to forfeit £3,316, having benefited by £13,316.

Graham's father, James Graham, 79,of Carrfield Avenue, Crosby, who provided a safe house for some of the drugs and is serving four years, and Daniel Wrest, 26, of Maple Court, Knowsley Village, who is serving 11 years were found to have benefited by £8,150 and £5,360 respectively but have only £1 assets.

Peter Dalton, 41, of Lorenzo Drive, Norris Green, who received three and a half years, benefited by £45,000 and has had £21,000 confiscated.

The man described as the organisation's banker, Farman Ali, 53, of Spa Road, Bolton, who received 14 years, benefited by £74,956. He has to hand over £72,456 or face an extra 21 months’ imprisonment.

The confiscation proceedings against Shields, 46, of Brook Road West, Waterloo, who was jailed for 15 years,, and two other men has been adjourned until next month.