Drug lord who lived a crime-fueled life of luxury has been told he has to repay a staggering amount of cash

A drug baron who lived a life of extraordinary luxury financed by crime has been ordered to pay back almost £3.5 million of his ill-gotten gains. Aram Sheibani faces an additional 10 years in prison if he fails to repay the huge sum.

Sheibani, 43, is currently serving a 37-year prison sentence after his international crime empire collapsed. A major investigation by Greater Manchester Police found that Sheibani had amassed a £5 million property portfolio, stayed in luxury accommodation, traveled the world and driven top of the line cars such as a Bentley and a Porsche.

Police also discovered he had more than £1 million in cash and £1.5 million in cryptocurrency. Sheibani, who lived in a luxury apartment in Bowdon, Trafford, had paid for cosmetic surgery including veneers, hair transplants and a nose job.

READ MORE: A ‘Saudi prince’, parties with ‘footballers’, model girlfriends and a very expensive hair transplant – the hedonistic luxury life of an international cocaine boss

Sheibani claimed his wealth came from legitimate sources, but a jury disagreed. A judge said he was convinced he was “at the head of a massive, international drug conspiracy, and that Sheibani was” close to the source of production in Colombia. He had made trips to the country, which police claimed were for investigative purposes.

Sheibani was found to have purchased items related to the production of cocaine, including two 30-ton industrial presses, plastic vacuum bags and acetone, while a video of a similar industrial press used in a cocaine production laboratory was discovered on his phone.

Sheibani was also convicted of mortgage fraud, by lying about his income and job to obtain mortgages, and using forged documents. In June 2021, Sheibani was found guilty of five charges of obtaining a money transfer by deception; three offenses of possession of criminal property; two offenses of failing to comply with a notice; two offenses of converting criminal property; two fraud offences; fake; the use of false instruments; conspiracy to supply controlled drugs; possession of a controlled drug of class A and perverting the course of justice.

“Your greed knows no bounds,” Judge Anthony Cross KC told Sheibani before sentencing him to 37 years in prison.

A proceeds of crime hearing took place at Manchester Crown Court on Friday 12 April. A judge ordered Sheibani to pay back more than £3.4 million. If he does not pay the amount within three months, Sheibani could have ten years added to his sentence.

After the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Andy Buckthorpe, from GMP’s economic crime unit, said: “The criminal investigation into Sheibani and his illegal activities was incredibly complex, and investigations took us abroad and into the digital world of cryptocurrency. The financial investigation that followed was equally complex, and I would like to thank every detective, financial investigator, volunteer and staff member who worked closely with the CPS to secure this outcome today.

“Sheibani was fueled by greed and dishonesty and made huge profits from Class A drugs and illicit substances, ignorant of the damage and destruction this trade is causing to our communities. If Sheibani fails to repay £3,408,369.67 over the next three months, a further ten years will be added to his already long prison sentence. I hope this is a clear warning to those involved in crime. Our investigations don’t end once you’re behind bars; our financial investigators are coming for every cent you’ve made at the expense of innocent people.

“The finances confiscated by this order can now be reinvested into the local community so affected by Sheibani and his crimes, with the overall aim of making the community safer for locals and more hostile for criminals like Sheibani to operate.”