Couple ordered to pay back drugs money

A couple who were convicted of transferring thousands of pounds of drug money have been ordered to pay back their ill-gotten gains.

Juned Miah, 33, and his wife Tania, 32, assisted drug dealers in Cambridge to move criminal funds to and from different accounts between 2020 and 2021.

The pair, of Darwin Drive, were found guilty of transferring criminal property at a trial at Cambridge Crown Court in 2024. Juned was sentenced to 15 months in prison and Tania was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

Following their sentencing, the Eastern Special Operation Unit’s (ERSOU) Proceeds of Crime Unit (POCU) launched a financial investigation which discovered the pair had benefitted by a total of £216,036.49 from their criminal conduct.

A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing held at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (26 September), ordered Juned to repay his currently held cash and assets worth £120,802.60. He was ordered to pay it back within three months or face a further two years in prison, where he would still be required to repay the money.

Tania was ordered to repay her currently held cash and assets worth £21,187.19 within three months or face a year in prison, where she too would still be required to repay the money.

Senior Investigation Manager from ERSOU, Paul Fitzsimmons said: “We will maximise every opportunity we can under POCA legislation, alongside our colleagues in police forces, to strip those who seek to benefit from their ill-gotten gains.

“Miah and his wife will now be made to pay the price for their actions, and we hope this serves as an important reminder to anyone who thinks that they can profit financially from their criminal activities.”