Australia - Drug baron ordered to pay Qld govt $4.2m

OFF THE WIRE
A Gold Coast drug baron has to pay back $4.2 million in crime proceeds to the Queensland government in a landmark court ruling.
Charles Edward Cannon has been fighting the government in the Supreme Court in Brisbane for eight years, as authorities tried to confiscate money they claim he made from drug trafficking.
The government alleged the former Finks bikie associate accumulated cash and property worth up to $27 million by selling methamphetamines between 1995 and 2003.
It was Queensland's largest and longest-running civil confiscation case.
Cannon, 51, was convicted in 2005 of trafficking and possessing dangerous drugs and was jailed for nearly 13 years.
He is still serving his sentence.
After his arrest, the Crime and Misconduct Commission froze Cannon's assets - including his Jaguar car, waterfront mansion, boats and jewellery - estimated to be worth $4.3 million.
Cannon was the largest scalp the CMC has claimed under the new Queensland Criminal Proceeds Confiscation Act 2002.
n the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday, Justice Peter Applegarth ordered Cannon to pay $4.2 million.
CMC financial investigations John Richardson told AAP the CMC was pleased with the result.
"It's not what we asked for but the court considers all the evidence and that's the judgment the court has come down with," he said.
"We're not disappointed by the result by any means."
He said despite the length of time and high legal costs the action was justified.
"You can't not do it, there is important public interest in these matters... crime does not pay," Mr Richardson said.
Cannon has 28 days to appeal the matter.
Mr Richardson said it was likely Cannon's confiscated assets would be sold off to recover the cash.