Two men caught exchanging a gun in the street have been ordered to pay more than £60,000 of criminal assets.

Lee Walker, 37, and Alex Vassallo, 30, were seen acting suspiciously in Milton Avenue in Margate on the evening of June 18 2022.

After both were stopped and arrested, police searched a rucksack they had been seen to exchange.

Inside the bag was an 8mm Bruni pistol and cocaine with a street value of up to £20,000.

They were arrested and later charged with possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Both suspects admitted the offences at Canterbury Crown Court and, in February 2023 Walker, formerly of West Cliff Road, Ramsgate, received a five-year, seven-month sentence, while Vassallo, formerly of Gladstone Road, Broadstairs, was jailed for five years and three months.

After they were sentenced, police made an application to the court for a confiscation order, using powers contained within the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The act means the police can take back money and assets which offenders have gained from their criminal activities and can be used again if the offenders come into further assets.

Following an application to a court on Friday, September 13 2024, a judge ordered that Walker pay £56,000 of assets deemed to have been made through criminal means.

The ruling came after Vassalo was ordered to pay £4,900 at a previous hearing. Both men were given three months to pay the money or face a longer prison sentence.

DI David Godfrey said: “We will take every step open to us to remove criminal cash from circulation and ensure that crime doesn't pay.

“Our investigations showed that these two men had clearly profited from illegitimate means and recovering this money will help keep Kent a safer place.”