The Supreme Court has granted a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2015 (POCA) following the conviction of Manuel Hernandez for an offence of Possession of a Controlled Class A Drug with Intent to Supply. 

A statement from the RGP folllows below:

HERNANDEZ was arrested on the 3rd November 2022 on suspicion of being in  possession of Cocaine with an estimated street value of approximately £5,268.00. He  was convicted for the offence at the conclusion of criminal proceedings on the 6th  November 2024, and subsequently sentenced to 5 years imprisonment on the 17th  December 2024. 

Following his conviction, confiscation proceedings were initiated under POCA to  recover the financial benefit obtained by HERNANDEZ from his criminal conduct.  

At the confiscation hearing, the court determined that HERENANDEZ had benefited  from the offence and ordered the confiscation of £5,000.00 

The court ordered that the sum must be paid within two years, failing which  HERNANDEZ will face a default sentence of six months’ imprisonment. 

The Royal Gibraltar Police Economic Crime Unit continue to actively pursue  confiscation proceedings in appropriate cases where individuals have financially  benefited from criminal conduct, and will pursue all lines of enquiry when investigating  such matters. These measures ensure that offenders do not retain the profits of their  crimes and reinforce the commitment to disrupting criminal activity by targeting illicit  gains.