A British con man who sold fake Viagra erectile dysfunction pills as well as fake weight loss pills used 30 different offshore bank accounts in Malta, Holland and the Cayman Islands to channel illicit funds, a British court has heard.

The conman, named as 52-year-old Martin Hickman from Ashton-under-Lyne, was jailed for two years in 2009 following an investigation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

A hearing at Southwark Crown Court this week found that Hickman had earned more than £15.4 million from the illegal enterprise.

Investigators found extensive assets, including his Ashton home, several luxury flats, Range Rovers and large quantities of cash had been acquired through the profits of criminal activity. Hickman must now repay £14,407,850.28 within six months or face a further 10 years in prison.

The North West Regional Asset Recovery Team (NWRART) has said the order is the biggest secured in the history of the organisation. Detective Inspector Neil Ashton, head of the NWRART, said, “Hickman made a considerable personal fortune by selling illegal pills to thousands of unsuspecting victims. He has been held to account thanks to a meticulous joint investigation between the NWRART and MHRA.

“This case sends out a clear message to organised criminals that law enforcement agencies working in partnership will continue to pursue those involved in serious crime.”

Hickman made his fortune selling counterfeit tablets he purchased overseas. Investigators uncovered dozens of bank accounts across the globe which were used to launder millions of pounds in cash.

Hickman was sentenced to a further 22 months in prison in January 2011 for contempt of court after he tried to obtain a passport by deception and for selling a property in breach of a court order. He has since been released from jail.