A COURT has made a confiscation order totaling almost £1 million pounds in relation to a sophisticated drugs plot that saw a gang jailed for 109 years.

The gang was shipping parcels of baby powder out to Pakistan via the postal system which were returned by criminal associates, the contents having been substituted with heroin. The enterprise as a whole was assessed to have generated £4.7m.

Khalid Mahmood, of Low Lane, Clayton, Faisal Khan, of Burnett Avenue, Marshfield, Bradford, and Yasser Uddin, of Clifton Villas, Manningham, were convicted alongside Fiaz Ahmed, of Oldham, and Usman Bari, of Hull, following a ten week trial in 2013. The five are currently serving sentences totalling 109 years. ??

Today, Leeds Crown Court made confiscation orders totalling £900,497.87 which include a £280,000 property in Bradford, a Bentley GT Continental, equity in three further properties including one in Pakistan and a £40,000 Hublot watch.

The orders must be paid in full within three months or default sentences totalling eleven years will be activated, consecutive to sentences currently being served. Enforcement receivers are expected to be appointed by the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure properties are sold and the orders paid.?

This brings to a close a lengthy investigation run by the Regional Asset Recovery Team working with its partners in Border Force and West Yorkshire Police Regional Organised Crime Unit.?

A spokesman for Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit and North East Regional Asset Recovery Team, responding on today’s result said: "Those who choose to traffic in controlled drugs, particularly Class A such as in this case heroin, in addition to lengthy prison sentences can expect a rigorous investigation of their finances.

"Today’s orders demonstrate our determination to ensure that these defendants are stripped of any gains arising from their offending."