More than £300,000 has been seized from a criminal gang after investigators used powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The cash was confiscated from four members of the same family following their conviction for immigration offences.
Zakirhusain Shaikh was the front seat passenger of a car that was stopped at Dover port on 4 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, Sarfuddin Shaikh. Cash, false passports and identity documents were also seized.
Zakirhusain Shaikh, of Harewood Street, Leicester; and Sirazuddin Shaikh and Sarfuddin Shaikh, both of 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 Shaikh, also from Forest Gate.
On 16 December 2024 at Brighton Crown Court, Zakirhusain Shaikh and Sirazuddin Shaikh were sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months, and Sarfuddin Shaikh, was given 22 months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months. All three were given a 200-hour unpaid work requirement. Riyazuddin Shaikh 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 the illegal immigration to and from the UK.
Confiscation hearing
On Tuesday 21 October 2025, a confiscation hearing was heard at Lewes Crown Court. It found that Riyazuddin Shaikh, 28, had available assets of £129,518; Sirazuddin Shaikh, 26, had £110,929; Sarfuddin Shaikh, 29, had £84,823; and Zakirhusain Shaikh, 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.’