Man Sentenced For His Part In Organised Crime Group

A man from Broughton Astley has been handed a suspended prison sentence for his part in an organised crime group which supplied and distributed illegal drugs.

Ashok Kholia, 59, of Grantham Avenue, admitted allowing a premises to be used for the production of Class B drugs at Leicester Crown Court.

He was arrested after a cannabis factory with more than 650 plants was discovered by Police in a unit in Hinckley and a second container leased by Kholia in Enderby was uncovered and evidence of cannabis production was found.

Kholia was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, ordered to carry out 250 hours of community service and to abide by a night-time curfew.

The investigation began in the summer of 2019, when officers from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit arrested more than 50 people after executing more than 50 warrants across Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Liverpool.

Last year three of the main offenders were convicted and sentenced to substantial terms in jail.

Leicester Crown Court