**Drug Dealer Who Supplied Heroin and Cocaine Ordered to Repay £3,000 After Gaining £18,000**
A Cardiff man who was caught dealing heroin and cocaine has been ordered by the courts to return thousands of pounds in assets, following an extensive investigation by South Wales Police. Kaci Payne, aged 25, appeared before Cardiff Crown Court for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing on Tuesday, where it was confirmed that he must pay back £3,000 of his criminal gains—a small fraction of the total he was found to have benefited from.
Payne’s criminal activity first came to light following a police stop in November of the previous year. Officers intercepted a Renault vehicle in Cardiff, discovering Payne alongside three other individuals. Upon searching the vehicle and its occupants, police located a burner phone closely tied to a notorious ‘J’ drugs line operating in the area.
Subsequent searches of Payne’s residence in Verallo Drive, Canton, uncovered further incriminating evidence. Officers seized a knife, approximately £1,000 in cash, and designer clothing, suggesting the proceeds of crime may have been spent on high-value luxury items. It was CCTV footage that ultimately linked Payne to “topping up” the burner phone, a common technique used by those managing drug lines to ensure uninterrupted contact with buyers.
Analysis of the recovered phone revealed a series of messages detailing Payne’s involvement in the supply of both heroin and cocaine between early October and mid-November of last year. Despite being confronted with damning digital evidence, Payne opted to answer ‘no comment’ during police interviews, remaining silent on the specifics of his illegal trade.
When brought before the courts, Payne admitted to two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. The prosecution highlighted that he had accrued criminal gains amounting to £18,062 through his activities but acknowledged he now possessed assets totalling just £3,250.
The court also heard that Payne’s criminal activity was not without precedent. He has five prior convictions including possession with intent to supply cocaine, drug-driving, possession of cannabis, and carrying weapons. Mitigating on his behalf, his legal representatives described Payne’s difficult upbringing, referencing a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome, early exposure to cannabis, and a turbulent youth. They argued that he acted under the direction of others and was not a key player within the broader criminal network.
Last year, Payne was sentenced to a total of 36 months in prison. The latest judgment under the Proceeds of Crime Act further aimed to strip him of illicit profits. Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, noted Payne’s limited available assets but insisted he must pay £3,000 within three months. Failure to do so will result in a further two months behind bars.
This case is one of many reflecting the ongoing efforts by South Wales authorities to both prosecute those dealing in Class A drugs and recover the financial gains made from such enterprises. The confiscation of assets—even when they fall short of the full value of criminal earnings—sends a message that law enforcement continues to pursue justice beyond the initial custodial sentence.
The criminal justice system increasingly relies on the Proceeds of Crime Act to target the economic drivers of illicit enterprise. Experts suggest that financial repercussions can often serve as an effective deterrent, as well as disrupt the cashflow that underpins regional drug supply lines.
For those affected by addiction or drug crime in the Cardiff community, this latest outcome represents a step forward but also highlights the continuing challenge posed by entrenched drug networks. Authorities urge anyone with information regarding drug supply in their area to contact local police or Crimestoppers anonymously.
As Cardiff, like many urban centres across the UK, continues to face the challenges of drug-related offences, the courts remain resolute in not only passing custodial sentences but also hitting offenders in their wallets, in a bid to halt the cycle of crime and exploitation.