A Merseyside man jailed for his role in a huge VAT fraud has been ordered to repay 3.6 million pounds to HM Revenue and Customs.
Daniel Jones, 50, who used to live in Neston, was jailed for six years in 2005 after admitting to the part he played in a £60m organised crime syndicate.
Revenue officials were granted a confiscation order to seize £3.6 million of Jones' assets after a hearing a Worcester Crown Court.
Jones, whose address was Badger's Rake House, Chester High Road, must now surrender the assets within 18 months or spend three more years in jail.
The seizure includes his £1m home, a 1.2m Euro villa in Spain; a pair of £85,000 Bertuzzi shotguns, Rolex watches; diamond jewellery and Spanish bank accounts set up to conceal his cash.
He also had a part share in a bar Spain valued at £100,000.
Andrew Pavlinic, assistant director of investigation for HMRC, said: "We are pleased that we have been able to reclaim this money for the nation and the taxpayer.
"The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 is proving a vital tool in helping us take back the illicit wealth stolen by criminals and stop them returning to their luxurious lifestyles at the cost of vital public services such as hospitals, schools and care homes.
"We will continue to investigate and prosecute those involved in serious and organised fraud and pursue Confiscation Orders through the courts to deprive them of the financial benefits of their crime."
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