A CONVICTED drug dealer has had more than £40,000 of his assets seized.

Anthony Mesa was sentenced to 12 months in prison in September last year after a judge heard how police found more than 2.4kg of cannabis and skunk and thousands of pounds in cash at his home.

The father-of-one appeared at Bolton Crown Court again yesterday and, under the Proceeds of Crime Act, agreed to hand over £42,355 within the next three months or face a further nine months in prison.

The court heard that police visited Mesa’s home in Nunnery Road, Bolton, on April 15, 2016 and found £1,720 in cash in the front pocket of his jeans. They found 2.42kg of cannabis, resin and skunk and another £11,000 cash in an upstairs room.

Drug paraphernalia and a notepad detailing prices and transactions of drug deals was also found. The court heard that the drugs could have been worth up to £16,456 on the street.

Mesa, aged 40, was arrested and answered ‘no comment’ when questioned, but later pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply, possessing criminal property and money laundering.

Speaking after the hearing, Janet Robinson, Bolton police financial investigator, said: “This is a good result and shows that we are determined to ensure criminals do not benefit from their criminality.”