Cambridgeshire cocaine boat to be auctioned
The owner was sentenced to 8 years in jail
A boat which was used to store large amounts of cocaine in Huntingdon is being auctioned off.
49-year-old Ben Cunningham, formerly of Wyton Moorings, Banks End, was jailed for eight years in August 2023 for his role in a criminal network selling drugs across Cambridgeshire.
An investigation led by ERSOU's Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) found that he had used the San Periel boat, which was moored on the River Great Ouse, to store blocks of high purity cocaine.
Investigators searching the vessel after arresting Cunningham found cocaine with a potential street value of ÂŁ470,000, along with more than ÂŁ13,000 in cash and cannabis worth ÂŁ7,000.
Following Cunningham’s conviction, specialist financial investigators from ERSOU’s economic crime unit began enquiries to establish how much he had earned through the criminality, identifying he had made £249,456.98 through illegal means.
At a Cambridge Crown Court hearing last week, Cunningham was ordered to repay an initial £36,514.60 – the value of the money and assets he currently has available – or face additional time behind bars.
Financial Investigation Manager Jemima Cholmondeley-Smith, from ERSOU, said: “After it was proven that Cunningham was involved in a criminal network buying and selling drugs on a commercial scale, it was important that we took steps to take back the money he’d made illicitly.
“Our specialist investigators then built a picture of the huge sums Cunningham was making, finding that he was living a lavish lifestyle, frequently dining out and staying in expensive hotels. He paid no regard to the damage being caused within our communities through the drugs he was profiting from.
“Using Proceeds of Crime Act legislation, we’ll continue to pursue the finances and assets of those profiting through activity such as drug dealing.”