Gangster boss lived lavish lifestyle off his crime - but no longer

A gang leader who evaded the police for over two years before he was captured in Dubai has been ordered to pay back over £22,000 of his ill-gotten gains.

Leon Cullen, from Warrington, made almost £350,000 from the supply of firearms, ammunition and cocaine between June 1 2016 to January 11 2018.

33-year-old Cullen was detained on an international arrest warrant in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, on January 3 2020 after evading police over a two-year period by using a false passport.

READ MORE: Gangster twins may have ruled the streets and made a fortune from drugs, but they won't be so intimidating once they've served their time

Police seized a Rolex watch valued at £23,000 and £4,830 cash from him when he was detained. At a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, the judge ordered a total of £22,830.38 to be paid back.

Following extradition proceedings he returned to the United Kingdom on 19 February 2021 and admitted to being part of the criminal network alongside his twin brother Anthony.

The hearing held at Liverpool Crown Court on August 8 (Monday) also saw Cullen handed a Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO).

The order means he will be robustly monitored when he leaves prison after serving his 22 years and six-month sentence. The SCPO bans Cullen from associating with the men who were part of his organised crime group.

He must inform Cheshire Constabulary of any vehicles and communication devices he owns or uses and must tell the police where he is living and working and of any bank accounts he uses. The SCPO, which will be imposed for five years from his prison release date, also restricts him to only owning two computers and two mobile phones at any time. Cullen was convicted as part of Operation Samurai, a