Robert Turkiewicz, 48, has been ordered to forfeit £95,835 earned from his involvement in a drug and money laundering operation. The decision came during a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh, following Turkiewicz’s sentencing in December 2023 for his criminal activities.
Alongside accomplices Steven Black, 49, and Lee Johnston, 39, Turkiewicz pocketed nearly £100,000 from a scam that was uncovered by Police Scotland detectives. The trio was arrested after police raided several properties in Airdrie and Shotts, North Lanarkshire, in June 2020, seizing over £1 million in cash, along with cannabis and cocaine valued at £37,500.
Black received a nine-year sentence, while both Turkiewicz and Johnston were sentenced to 27 months in prison. Judge Douglas Brown highlighted the severity of the drug dealing, especially involving Class A substances like cocaine, stating that substantial sentences are essential for punishment and deterrence.
During the recent court proceedings, prosecutor Dan Byrne KC and defense lawyer Colin Neilson reached an agreement regarding the confiscated funds. Judge David Young KC subsequently ordered the confiscation of the amount Turkiewicz earned from his criminal endeavors, emphasizing the judicial system’s commitment to addressing proceeds of crime in drug-related offenses.