More than £500k has been confiscated from the leader of a drugs ring - now serving a 16 year prison sentence after being caught in Wraysbury with £5.25million worth of cocaine.

Christopher Monaghan, 47, was jailed in February 2015 for conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply drugs and three counts of money laundering - following an investigation by Surrey Police Serious Organised Crime Unit.

He was a key player in a drugs gang whose members were caught red-handed by Surrey Police officers.

On February 7, 2013 they picked up a shipment of 21kg of high purity cocaine worth up to £5.25m, which had come through Heathrow Airport and was then taken to an address in Wraysbury Road where they were caught.

Since then, the force’s Economic Crime Unit has been pursuing Monaghan under the Proceeds of Crime Act aiming to seize his criminally gained assets.

On Thursday, February 15 this dedication paid off when a hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court agreed to the confiscation of £511,799 which will go to the treasury.

Head of the Economic Crime Unit Detective Inspector Matthew Durkin said: “Throughout the initial investigation by our colleagues in the Serious and Organised Crime Unit it became clear that Christopher Monaghan was living a lifestyle way beyond the means of his legitimate income.

“He lived in a large house worth £1.5m, paid £26,000 in cash for a high end car, spent £9,900 on holidays and bought expensive watches which we knew he couldn’t have done without the income from his drugs empire.

“The POCA is a fantastic piece of legislation that really is a criminal’s worst nightmare as it means we can continue coming after them and their ill-gotten gains even after they are behind bars.

“Going through a POCA application is a complex and lengthy process which involves taking time to identify any assets relating to criminality and unravelling bank accounts and financial records.

“I would like to pay tribute to our financial investigator Bob Scott who has worked tirelessly on this case over the last three years.”

Monaghan previously lived at Norrells Drive, East Horsley.