UK Asian criminal asked to repay millions pounds

The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) has been granted a Confiscation Order for 10.5 million pounds against the network's mastermind, Khalid Mahmood Malik.

The order, granted at York Crown Court, will see Malik lose much of the wealth which, at the height of his criminal activity, allowed him to acquire properties in the UK and abroad worth 3 million pounds, and luxury cars.

Judge Ashurst stated that Malik has three months to pay up or faces a further 10 years in prison, a SOCA release said.

The Bradford-based drug dealer was jailed for 25 years in 2005 for conspiracy to supply heroin, having used family members and corrupt business people to launder the proceeds.

Among the 26 people imprisoned in addition to Malik were his financial advisor who arranged fraudulent mortgages and held Malik's cash in his own bank account, and a solicitor who allowed 593,000 pounds of drug money to be used to purchase property in the names of others.

Sentences resulting from the investigation into the crime group totalled more than 200 years.

"Dismantling Malik's entire criminal network was a lengthy and complex operation which required all the expertise and dedication of the investigative team," Ian Cruxton, SOCA Deputy Director, said.

"This work now means that, as well as spending decades in prison, Malik has failed in his attempt to hide his profits behind a convoluted network of friends, family and corrupt professional advisors," he added.