Property near Welshpool seized after drugs case

The building in Middletown is said to be connected to money laundering.

Nine men and four women from the West Midlands, connected to the group were sentenced at Stafford Crown Court in December for their involvement in a large-scale conspiracy to supply cocaine into an area stretching from Staffordshire to the Welsh Borders.

They were jailed for a total of more than 50 years. 
A Civil Recovery Order by Consent was made at the High Court in London on Monday 14 January, leading to the NCA seizing recoverable property linked to Sukhjinder Kaur, 35, of Rugeley in Staffordshire and her brother-in-law Jasvir Singh, 45, also known as Lashman Chatha, under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

The NCA alleged that Kaur laundered the proceeds of the crime group’s drug trafficking activities through purchasing property and was also engaged in mortgage fraud.

Property

This enabled her to amass a property portfolio worth over £2 million between 2010 and 2013, acquired in her own name and that of her company Lashman Estates Limited.

The NCA alleged that the acquisitions were made at the direct control of her brother-in-law Jasvir Singh also known as Lashman Chatha.

The respondents denied any involvement in unlawful conduct but they ultimately failed to provide any evidence or consistent account to demonstrate that the properties were funded from legitimate sources.

Based on the strength of the NCA’s case against them and in an attempt to avoid a lengthy trial, the respondents reached a settlement agreement resulting in the recovery by consent of six properties with an approximate net value of £1.7 million.

The five other properties were all in the West Midlands.

Andy Lewis, of the NCA said:“Our message today though is simple. We will utilise all the powers we have to relentlessly pursue those associated with criminality and in doing so will take away the very assets that criminal activity funds.”