Surrey Police has seized a total of £1.2m worth of bitcoin from a cannabis farmer based in Cobham.

Seregjs Teresko, 31, was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court to nine years and three months in prison for money laundering, cultivation of cannabis and the possession/control of articles for use in fraud.

The investigation began after members of the public reported sightings of a man bundled into a car on a private property in Virginia Water.

A visit to the site of the alleged kidnapping revealed a large cannabis factory. Police identified the alleged kidnapee as Seregjs Teresko and searched his home address in Cobham.

Police uncovered evidence of Bitcoin activity and potential money laundering offences, along with luxury goods and cash in different currencies.

The Economic Crime Unit seized 295 Bitcoins under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and converted them to the value of £1.2m.

Police also seized £263,744.81 in cash from Mr Teresko’s house in Cobham and a safety deposit box at a high street bank linked to him.

Also seized were expensive jewellery, high-value watches and gold bars, valued in excess of £50,000, a BMW 5 series and a Range Rover Evoque.

On Thursday July 19, the Court ruled Mr Teresko had benefited from his crimes in the sum of £2m and must forfeit £1. 4m, including the £1.2m converted from the Bitcoin.

He must also pay an additional £13,150 within three months or face an additional 10 years in prison.

Detective Inspector Matthew Durkin of the Economic Crime Unit, said: “It appears Teresko was a member of an organised crime group and Bitcoin was one of the methods he chose to launder criminal assets.

“I hope this sends a clear message to criminals using Bitcoin to fund illegal activities; it’s not an anonymous as you think, we are able to trace you and we will prosecute.

“This is a ground-breaking, innovative achievement and we are very pleased to be the first UK police force to have achieved this.”