A GANG member who tried to flee justice has been ordered to pay back the profits of his crimes.

Joseph Lindsay was identified as part of Operation Escalade and fled Scotland before being arrested in Tenerife in 2019.

The serious organised crime gang he belonged to was involved in importing drugs to the United Kingdom, concealing illegally made cash, trafficking firearms and using violence to enforce their operation.

On Monday, the 36-year-old was made the subject of a confiscation order.

It’s estimated he benefited by £376,000 and the order has been made for £103,937.

But the Crown has the power to extend the order to seize money and assets Lindsay acquires in the future to pay back the full amount he made from his crimes.

A flatbed lorry was found during the search of an industrial unit in East Kilbride in January 2017. It had a concealed hatch which contained plastic boxes full of large quantities of cash.

READ MORE: Man charged over 'offensive tweet' about Captain Sir Tom Moore

Lindsay’s DNA was found on elastic bands wrapped around the money in one of the boxes, which contained more than £95,000 in cash.

He pleaded guilty to being involved in serious organised crime and was jailed for four years and six months in September 2019.

Jennifer Harrower, procurator fiscal for specialist casework, said: “Joseph Lindsay was a part of a criminal network involved in trafficking drugs and firearms and he tried to evade the authorities by fleeing the UK.

“This order shows that the Crown will not stop at prosecution, we will use all powers available to disrupt serious and organised crime as a member of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce.

“These funds will be added to those already gathered from proceeds of crime and will be re-invested in Scottish communities through the CashBack for Communities programme.”