A DRUG dealer currently serving four years in prison has been ordered to repay over £50,000 from the proceeds of his crimes.

Mohibur Rahman, 26, of Reedyford Road, Nelson, was charged with possession of diamorphine with intent to supply and possession of cannabis in November last year after he was stopped by officers for acting suspiciously in Charles Street.

A search of his vehicle recovered a bag of cannabis, seven wraps of heroin, £500 and a list of phone numbers believed to be a dealers list.

A search of his home address found bundles of cash totalling £5,235 which is now the subject of a confiscation hearing Lancashire Police conducted a detailed financial investigation into Rahman and his overall benefit from crime has been calculated as £57,001.

Brought back before Burnley Crown Court yesterday he was ordered by Judge Butler to pay back £51,699 within six months or face a further 18 month prison sentence and still owe the money on his release, with accrued interest.

A Financial Investigator for Lancashire Constabulary said: "It is likely Rahman will have to sell his house and his new BMW car to meet the forfeiture order.

"In most cases the main motivation of criminals is financial gain and therefore this is an area in which we can hit the criminal hardest.

"I would like to reassure our communities that we target the profits of criminal activity at all levels in our communities, whether they convicted drug dealers or those who commit complex frauds."