A hunt by investigators have started for a £10 million drug smuggling gang's hidden illegal profits.
The gang, which includes two men from Leicestershire, were part of a gang which imported huge amounts of cocaine and heroin hidden in shipments of furniture and clothes. The gang were jailed for a combined total of 115 years.
Jagdish Patel, 51, from Syston, was found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine and heroin and conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin. He was sentenced to 25 years. Talib Hussain, 59, from Birmingham, was found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine and heroin and conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin and was sentenced to 24 years. Ravindra Modha, 55, from Thurmaston, was found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine and was sentenced to 16 years. Paulvinder Randhawa, 47, from Wembley, admitted conspiracy to supply heroin at the start of the trial and was sentenced to 18 years. Ayaz Hussain, 28, of from Wembley, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine during the trial and was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years.
The Crown Prosecution Service and Leicestershire Police have now both confirmed they have started to search for the gang's assets, including properties, cash, vehicles and luxury goods.
The court can order to seize the assets it believes were paid for in cash from illegal activities. The court will then calculate the value of their “criminal benefit” and will set a financial sum which the gang must pay within a timeframe. If the amount is not paid, the prison sentence will increase and they would still be obliged to make the payments.
Andrew Baxter, deputy chief crown prosecutor at CPS East Midlands, said after the men were sentenced, “This was a significant smuggling operation leading to a substantial police investigation, and a great deal of close working between the police and the CPS ensured that the strongest possible case was built. Drug smuggling is far from a victimless crime, and the CPS will now use its powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act to ensure that these offenders do not profit from their crimes.”
