A DRUG dealing Mr Big has been ordered to hand over £2.4million of crime cash -- the largest amount ever confiscated from a criminal in Lancashire.

And as Ayub Khansia, 47, was ordered to hand over the money, police revealed how addicts committed thousands of burglaries and muggings to pay for the heroin he supplied.

Four other members of Khansia's family have also been told to pay back a total of just over £500,000 after they laundered his drugs profits by buying properties in their names.

Khansia, of Tintern Crescent, Blackburn, is currently serving a total of 12 years in prison for his crimes after pleading guilty to possession of heroin with intent to supply and money laundering, last November.

The confiscations are the largest in Lancashire's history, and according to a spokesman for the national Asset Recovery Agency, "one of the largest in the North West".

Part of the money Judge Stuart Baker order to be handed over will come from bank accounts which were frozen when the investigations begun, but most will come from the sale of 18 properties the family bought to launder the drugs cash.

The homes, including a £215,000 detached house in Lowood place and a £22,000 terraced house in Tintern Crescent, were held in the names of the other family members, Preston Crown Court was told.

Khansia has 12 months to pay back more than £2.2million, under the Drug Trafficking Act, and six months to pay back £178,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act. If he defaults on payments he could be sent to prison for a total of seven years.

The money will go to the Government, which will hand back a proportion to local police to help tackle crime.

After the case, Det Insp Ian Critchley of Blackburn police said: "Many crimes have been committed for money that has gone into the pockets of the Khansia family and has been used to purchase the assets, which have been part of the confiscation orders.

"The money ultimately comes from heroin users, who ultimately have to commit crimes of burglary, robbery, shop lifting and muggings to pay for these drugs which ultimately gets into the pockets of the Khansia family.

"We are delighted with the outcome that this has been the most significant seizure of assets that there has ever been in Lancashire."

Det Chief Insp Mike Kellett, head of the Regional Asset Recovery Team, which conducted the financial investigation, said: "Criminals can no longer go to prison, do their time and then come out to enjoy good lifestyles funded by their drug dealing.

"Not only will Ayub Khansia be unable to enjoy the fruits of his crimes but when he is eventually released from prison he will find it more difficult to re-establish himself as a drug dealer because his lack of money will mean he will lack status among other criminals and he will be unable to afford to fund drug dealing on the same scale as before."

The investigation into the family started when Ayub Khansia was arrested in January last year at a house in Swallow Drive. Police also seized 1.5kg of heroin.

Khansia, his son Salim Holden, 27, daughter Anisa, 23, nephew Imran, 24, and father Yusuf, 78, were arrested and pleaded guilty to money laundering. They were each given custodial sentences.

Making Ayub Khansia's confiscation order, Judge Baker said: "It is abundantly clear from the evidence and from the defendant's guilty pleas that he has a criminal lifestyle. I also find by material presented to the court, which was not challenged, that he has benefited from this criminal lifestyle."