Heroin dealer William O'Neil had the massive collection frozen by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency

Heroin dealer William O'Neil had the massive collection frozen by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency.Peter Howson has been interviewed by police after elite crimebusters seized £1million of his paintings from a convicted drug dealer.Detectives raided the £1.5million country mansion O'Neil, 43, shares with his partner Denise, 39, just over a week ago and the pair have been charged under proceeds of crime laws.O'Neil's arrest came just four days before Howson received his OBE from the Queen.At the same time, the artist was forced to sell 200 works from his private collection to stave off financial disaster.Glasgow-based Howson - whose fans include Madonna - is one of Scotland's most famous artists but as a sufferer of Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, he is vulnerable.Friends say that Howson is now working with SCDEA officers in a bid to value the huge collection seized from O'Neil.A pal said last night: "O'Neil and his cronies have squeezed Peter dry. He was on the brink of financial ruin."He is actually relieved that matters have come to a head. This will shock the art world - it's like a movie script."O'Neil was arrested in 2001 and later jailed for seven years after being caught with £250,000 of heroin.Following his imprisonment, he waged a hate campaign on a member of his own legal team and claimed he'd been fitted up by cops.
The drugs gang boss founded Art & Soul Glasgow shortly after his release from prison in 2007.Based in the city's Buchanan Street, Art&Soul began selling Howson's work in an arrangement that stunned the artist's pals.They claim that O'Neil - who lives in the village of Bardowie north of Glasgow - ripped off Howson and put pressure on him to produce lots of work.The friend said: "Peter was treated like a machine. He's such a prolific artist and he handed over countless works to them.
"The problem was he hardly saw a penny in return."O'Neil had an incredible amount of originals. He took over the management of Peter and cornered the market by cutting the supply and forcing up the price."They were encouraging him to do really big pieces because they are worth so much. Peter eventually realised what was happening and took legal action. He's argued that as an Asperger's sufferer, he didn't know what he'd agreed to."He does not consider himself to be under their management but they argue that he is contractually tied to them. It's a real mess."It's shocking that one of Scotland's most famous living artists was effectively the puppet of an organised crime gang and scandalous that he should be almost skint."They were starving him of money, that's why he sold his personal collection on the same day that he got his OBE from the Queen."Range Rover-driving O'Neil's main sidekick is fellow drug dealer Sean Reilly, 43, from Summerston, Glasgow, who was jailed over £600,000 of ecstasy in 2003.The pal said: "O'Neil seems to be the brains while Reilly looks like a real gangster type."Not only are they heavily involved in the art world, but they have an extensive property portfolio."O'Neil used to import Indonesian furniture to Scotland but now runs his art business and is often seen at partner Denise's Bankroll cafe in the city's Milton.He keeps a low profile in the city's criminal underworld but has a track record as a major wholesaler of drugs.
In 1991, he was slashed in the face by rival gangster Ian "Blink" McDonald in Glasgow's Savoy nightclub.Six years ago, he was ordered to hand over £103,845 of dirty money under proceeds of crime laws - but still owes £76,000 of that.The Crown Office said: "Proceedings are active against William John O'Neil in relation to an outstanding confiscation order in connection with proceeds of crime."He is next due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court on November 12 for a means inquiry hearing."A friend of Howson added: "He's been told not to speak publicly about this but I understand that he's talked to detectives on several occasions."There are some very murky aspects to this case but the police seem determined to get to the bottom of it."A Glasgow auction house has been asked by the SCDEA to put a value on the art seized from O'Neil and they, in turn, have asked Peter for help."Howson's psychologist Michael McCready said: "You know more about this than I do but obviously I can't talk about an ongoing police inquiry."However, as an Asperger's sufferer, Peter is a very vulnerable person."
Howson once admitted blowing £1million on drink and drugs in five years and has long been linked to Glasgow's underworld.He once revealed that he'd been secretly supplying art to late crime boss Arthur Thompson - a claim he later denied when the taxman launched a probe.In recent years, two other crooks have had Howson works seized under Scot-land's proceeds of crime laws.Last year, Robert Wright, 46, from Glasgow, lost cash and his Howson painting Study For The Opera Don Giovanni Police believe that Wright's £2.8million heroin bust at Glasgow Fruitmarket was linked to O'Neil but couldn't prove it.Later last year, Porschedriving Andrew Johnston, 31, from Kelvindale, Glasgow, had five of his Howsons seized after being jailed for 12 months for concealing criminal property.The SCDEA said last night: "A 43-year old man and a 39-year old female were arrested on October 16 at an address in Bardowie.
"The individuals have been charged with offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and will be the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal." When contacted by the Sunday Mail yesterday, O'Neil said: "I'm offended that you're speaking to me about this."Howson, 51, who was the official war artist during the Bosnian conflict in 1993, declined to comment last night when we got in touch.