ONE of the main men in a ‘£28m’ drugs gang made more than £2.6million from the operation — but the most he might ever pay back could be just £1.

John Dreslin, 34, of Accrington, is serving an eight-and-a-half year sentence for his part in a plot to flood the North West with cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis.

He is said to have made £2,617,500, but a police financial investigation has found he has no available money or assets.

Dreslin was one of 14 men involved in the enterprise and who were locked up for a total of more than 100 years at Preston Crown Court.

Thee court was told he had allowed the gang to use his and his partner's home in Pilot Street, Accrington, as a safehouse. Police had gathered surveillance evidence of deliveries and pick-ups from the property.

Dreslin and his accomplices had admitted conspiring to supply drugs, which were said by the police to be worth about £28m.

The court had been told drugs had been professionally acquired, stored and distributed on a wholesale level in industrial quantities.

A provisional proceeds of crime order was made against Dreslin and several other gang members by Judge Simon Newell, at Burnley Crown Court.

Final orders are set to be made in 14 days.

Those who have nothing will have to hand over a nominal amount - usually £1 - to the police.

The hearing was told Martin Carroll, 36 at sentence date, benefitted by £347,500.

Carroll, of Limefield Street, Accrington, was said at the sentencing hearing to have been a ‘trusted courier’" who moved vast amounts of drugs from the gang's safe house.

Carroll, who also has nothing available to pay anything back, is serving 10 years.

Simon Fairweather, then 22, of Livingstone Road, Blackburn, was found to have made £300 from crime.

He is also said to have no cash or assets.

The proceeds of crime hearing was told Linacre, 40, had benefitted by £79,303 and had £500 in an ISA account. Linacre, of Edward Street, Rishton, is serving 11 years.

Neil Shaw, 50, of Whewell Row, Oswaldtwistle, when he was sentenced, is said to have made £1,000, has £1,000 - equity in a house - available to pay back and asked for time to hand it over.

Leader of the group, Martin Day, 40, of East Street, Hapton, will face a proceeds of crime hearing at a later date.