THE police team which confiscated almost £3million from a drug-dealing family has been honoured by the government.

Ayub Khansia is currently serving 12 years in prison for supplying heroin and money laundering. He was jailed in December.

Khansia, 47, of Tintern Crescent, Blackburn, was ordered to hand over £2.4million of his drugs cash, which had been laundered by buying 18 homes.

Four other members of his family were also ordered to pay back a total of more than £500,000 after they laundered cash by buying properties in their names.

It all amounted to the biggest haul confiscated from criminals in Lancashire.

Now the team behind Operation Exclusive' have scooped the Best Practice in Asset Recovery category award in the 2006 Home Office Tackling Drugs Supply Awards.

Detective Inspector Ian Critchley, senior investigating officer, said: "I am proud that this operation which began in Blackburn in 2003 is now being recognised at a national level. We have had a great deal of public support and positive community feedback regarding this case.

"Operation Exclusive is certainly one of the most significant results in recent years.

"It demonstrates our continued commitment to targeting traffickers of class A drugs."

During the operation, Lancashire police worked with the North West Regional Asset Recovery Team, a branch of the government which works to claim back the proceeds of crime.

The money then goes back to the government to help fight crime.

Home Office minister Paul Goggins said: "Operation Exclusive has hit criminals where it hurts most their pockets."