Money laundering family ordered to pay back £423,000 of ill-gotten gains

On February 5, last year, Mohammed Kamran Chaudhry, aged 32, of Bury Old Road, Prestwich, was jailed for two years for conspiracy to sell counterfeit goods and money laundering.

Abdul Hamid Chaudhry, aged 60, of Chatburn Road, Chorlton was jailed for 20 months for the same offences.

Mohammed Basit Chaudhry, aged 26, also of Chatburn Road, Chorlton, was jailed to three years and four months for possessing a class B drug with intent to supply and money laundering.

And Shahnuz Akhtar Chaudhry, aged 58, also of Chatburn Road, Chorlton, was jailed for 10 weeks in prison for five counts of mortgage fraud.

An investigation into their finances was launched shortly after their arrest.

At Manchester Crown Court today, the family were found to have benefited to the tune of more than £2.5 million.

Based on available assets, they have been ordered to pay back £423,942.

Mohammed Kamran Chaudhry benefited £750,000 and has been ordered to repay £21,015 within three months.

Abdul Hamid Chaudhry benefited £1,063,081 and has been ordered to repay £293,257 within six months.

Mohammed Basit Chaudhry benefited £750,000 and has been ordered to repay £14,155 within six months.

Shahnuz Akhtar Chaudhry benefited £130,000 and has been ordered to repay £95,515.36.

Det Con Pete Fawcett said: "Thanks to this ruling and the cash and property already restrained, the Chaudhry family will have more than £423,000 stripped from them.

"We have closed down their criminal businesses and they have been forced to sell their properties and one of the family members had to return her top-of-the-range Mercedes to the leasing company.

"This is money they have made from the counterfeit goods and drug trade and demonstrates that we will continue our investigations even when someone has been sentenced and jailed.

"We are determined to bring those involved in criminality to justice and if anyone has benefited financially they can expect to be stripped of their assets."