DEALER HUNTED BEYOND GRAVE; EXCLUSIVE.

Byline: By RUSSELL FINDLAY

CRIMEBUSTERS are chasing a drug dealer's fortune - despite the fact he died last week.

Double-murder suspect Lee Smith was found dead after a suspected drug overdose.

Civil Recovery Unit investigators have been chasing the 32-year-old for cash.

He had already been forced to hand over pounds 750,000 - including his home, three flats, a Mercedes and a Jaguar.

Smith - exposed in the Sunday Mail's Prime Suspects series - was found dead at Craig Tara holiday park in Ayr on Monday.

Gangland sources claim he had a serious cocaine addicition that led to his death.

He was the prime suspect in the 1999 slaying of rival John Nisbet, 25, and William Lindsay, 26. They were shot and their bodies torched near Elphinstone, East Lothian.

Smith and an associate were both named in a police report to the procurator fiscal but they were never charged.

Smith, originally of Bellshill, Lanarkshire, later became involved in private security - often used as a front for gangs.

ACRU spokesman said: "The petition for the recovery order in this case is still before the court. The process will be suspended to allow representatives of Mr Smith to apply to become parties to the action.

"It is still our position that these assets were gained through unlawful conduct."

Smith's brother Garry, 28, was cleared of another murder which happened on the same day as the double slaying.

CAPTION(S):

Suspicion: Lee Smith