Handler jailed after £1,000,000 of car parts seized

Car parts worth £1,000,000 have been seized from two sites near Maidstone and the person running both locations has been jailed.

Asif Iqbal-Khan was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months’ imprisonment after officers investigating the dismantling and distribution of stolen vehicles across the southeast found troves of stolen engine components, body panels and other items.

Between December 2024 and February 2025, police received multiple reports of Kia thefts.

Enquiries into the incidents saw detectives track a stolen vehicle to a yard on Scragged Oak Road in Detling, where they uncovered and seized a number of stolen car parts.

Vehicle stopped

In April 2025, proactive patrols on the A20 spotted a red Ford Transit Minibus which they suspected to be travelling on cloned number plates.

They brought the vehicle to a stop near Swanley and found the driver, Iqbal-Khan, had a set of keys labelled ‘Shed 6’.

Further investigation revealed the keys opened a distribution centre located at a farm in Waterditch Road, Lenham.

Here, in a 65 metre long shed, officers located thousands of car parts. In total, detectives recovered items from 40 reported stolen vehicles.

Iqbal-Khan, of Waterditch Lane, Lenham was later identified as the person responsible for both locations. He was charged and remanded in custody.

Valuable items seized

Further searches of the 41 year old’s home address led to the recovery of a Louis Vuitton handbag, a silver Rolex watch, 3 pieces of gold jewellery and a large quantity of cash.

Following a trial at Maidstone Crown Court, Iqbal-Khan was convicted of handling stolen property to the value of £300,000, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance. He was sentenced at the same court on Tuesday 20 October 2026.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Alex Bagnall, said:

‘Due to a determined and relentless investigation, Iqbal-Khan’s garages and distribution centre have been shut down, and his assets seized as proceeds of crime.
‘This case is a reminder that we will pursue every available line of enquiry to ensure those responsible for serious crime are tracked down and imprisoned. Furthermore we will always seize any ill-gotten gains to ensure they cannot profit from their offending.’