Teen Drug Dealer Must Repay £8k After Newport Home Raid

A teenage drug dealer has been ordered to pay back £8,000 after police found him in possession of up to £12,000 worth of amphetamine during a raid on his Newport home.

Joseph Tucker, 19, was visited by police who conducted a search warrant at his home on September 20 last year. Officers discovered a Nike shoulder bag in the defendant’s bedroom containing four bags of amphetamine amounting to 1.2kg.

The search also uncovered 27g of cannabis, £2,000 in cash (which Tucker had thrown over a wall hoping it wouldn’t be discovered), and a fake Rolex watch. A small amount of cocaine was also found, which the defendant claimed was for personal use.

The amphetamine had a street value between £6,000 and £12,000, and a wholesale value between £1,300 and £3,700.

Tucker, of Windsor Road, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class B drugs, possession of class B drugs and possession of criminal property. He had one previous conviction for possession with intent to supply amphetamine.

At a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, it was revealed Tucker had benefited to the tune of £16,639 from his offending. However, the court heard he only has assets worth £7,950.

Judge Shomon Khan ordered the defendant to pay that sum within 28 days or face an additional four months imprisonment in default.

Tucker was previously sentenced to 22 months detention in a young offenders’ institute for the offences.