The agency believes a £2m property portfolio was acquired through laundering the proceeds of the drug trafficking and also by mortgage fraud.
It believes that three of these properties had been specifically utilised by the crime group, including one which was found to have an extensive underground cannabis factory.
Recovered six properties
The NCA seized properties 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.
It alleged that Kaur laundered the proceeds of the crime group’s activities to amass the £2m portfolio between 2010 and 2013.
The properties were acquired in her own name and that of her company Lashman Estates Limited and the agency alleged the acquisitions were made at the direct control of Lashman Chatha.
In a statement, the NCA said 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 £1.7m,” it said.
The six properties are located in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Wednesbury, and Fenton in the West Midlands, and Welshpool in Wales.
Jailed for 50 years
NCA head of asset denial, civil recovery and tax investigations Andy Lewis said: “The powers that the National Crime Agency has under the Proceeds of Crime Act to seize property and other assets that we can show are linked to criminality often go under the radar.
“While Staffordshire Police were able to prosecute and convict those involved directly in the drug dealing, we have taken action against key associates suspected of links to that network.”
Nine men and four women connected to the organised crime 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.
The group, which was led by the three Saeed brothers from Wolverhampton – Abdul, Mohammed and Shabaz – was jailed for a total of more than 50 years.
