A criminal family who made hundreds of thousands through assisting illegal immigration has had their ill-gotten gains seized by Kent Police.

Zakirhusain Shaikh was the front-seat passenger of a car that was stopped at the Port of Dover in October 2018.

The vehicle was carrying three other passengers using false UK passports who had overstayed their visas. All the occupants were detained.

Subsequent search warrants led to the arrest of Riyazuddin Shaikh, Sirazuddin Shaikh and Sarfuddin Shaikh.

Cash, false passports and identity documents were also seized.

Zakirhusain, of Harewood Street, Leicester, and Sirazuddin and Sarfuddin, both of Katherine Road, Forest Gate, London, were subsequently convicted of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

All three were also convicted of possession of criminal property along with Riyazuddin, also of Katherine Road, Forest Gate.

Criminals who have funded a lavish lifestyle […] find they will have to live a more modest existence following their convictions…

On December 16, 2024, at Brighton Crown Court, Zakirhusain and Sirazuddin were sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

Sarfuddin was given 22 months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

All three were given a 200-hour unpaid work requirement.

Riyazuddin was sentenced to a 12-month community order and a 150-hour unpaid work requirement.

Following the conclusion of criminal proceedings, Kent Police financial investigators gathered evidence under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

This included analysis of mobile phone and computer evidence that proved the family were regularly obtaining false documents and facilitating illegal immigration to and from the UK.

On Tuesday, October 21, a confiscation hearing was held at Lewes Crown Court.

It found that Riyazuddin, 28, had available assets of £129,518; Sirazuddin, 26, had £110,929; Sarfuddin, 29, had £84,823; and Zakirhusain, 52, had £6,174.

In total, £331,445 was ordered to be confiscated.

Detective Chief Inspector Helen Smithers said: “The Proceeds of Crime Act enables police to recover any ill-gotten gains from offenders by allowing us to seize cash and other assets funded by crime.

“This ensures criminals who have funded a lavish lifestyle from their offending, often to the detriment of vulnerable members of our community, find they will have to live a more modest existence following their criminal convictions.

“Powers derived from the act also allow us to recover further assets if they are identified in the future.”