A gang that ran Britain’s largest ever cannabis smuggling empire will face an uncomfortable Christmas in prison as they wait to see how much of their illicit fortunes will be retrieved by the police.

A proceeds of crime hearing has been set for January 24 next year, when Bowler, and his accomplices, including Peter Moran, a cousin of Labour MP Siobhan McDonough, and Mark Kinnimont, who lived in a flat in Claremont Road, Surbiton, will be told what they owe.

Jailed builder Terry Bowler, 40, from Kingston, led an organisation that smuggled at least £63m of skunk cannabis into the UK and used garages in Kingston, Surbiton, Epsom and Sutton.

Prosecutors admitted the figure may be the tip of the iceberg and wanted to track down the millions they believe has been stowed away. Homes in Lanzarote have been seized.

If they do not confess where money is and pay it back, they could each face 10 more years in jail without probation.

For Bowler, who is serving 16 years for masterminding the network, an extra sentence would take him into his 60s before he could be released.

For more visit www.surreycomet.co.uk/operationkarnak