Nearly £500,000 seized from Worthing drugs gang in Proceeds of Crime crackdown

Sussex Police has recovered nearly £500,000 from a Worthing-based drugs gang through a series of Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearings following earlier convictions related to drug trafficking and money laundering.

The enforcement action followed Operation Smith, which resulted in the 2024 sentencing of 15 gang members to a combined total of more than 90 years in prison for supplying Class A and B drugs in the Worthing area. Investigators determined that the group had benefitted from over £2 million through illegal activity, spending it on high-end goods and luxury items.

Confiscation hearings were held at Lewes Crown Court between September 2024 and June 2025. Orders ranged from nominal payments to six-figure sums, with assets including watches, cash, and gold coins seized. The £482,493.35 recovered will primarily go to the Crown Prosecution Service and law enforcement, with Sussex Police receiving a share to support future organised crime investigations.