Key Takeaways:
- An Indian-origin couple in the UK, Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Mahendrasinh Raijada, have been sentenced to 66 years in prison for drug smuggling and money laundering.
- The couple operated a large-scale cocaine smuggling operation, estimated to be worth £700m.
- They engaged in forgery, deception, and fraud, and are also accused of orchestrating a double murder in India.
The Downfall of a Criminal Couple
An Indian-origin couple connected to a notorious Gujarat double murder has been handed a substantial prison sentence in the United Kingdom. Arti Dhir, aged 59, and her husband, Kavaljitsinh Mahendrasinh Raijada, 45, collectively face 66 years behind bars—33 years each—following their conviction for drug smuggling and money laundering.
A Big-Scale Cocaine Smuggling Operation
Dhir, a British Indian, and Raijada, an Indian national, were apprehended for their role in a significant cocaine export scheme, moving drugs from London to Australia. The magnitude of their operation was staggering, with estimates that they smuggled approximately 7 tonnes of cocaine, valued at around £700m.
Despite their claims of innocence, the jury at Southwark Crown Court found them guilty on all counts. They faced 12 counts of exportation and 18 counts of money laundering, as laid out in the trial proceedings.
From Accquaintance to Accomplices
The backstory of Dhir and Raijada’s partnership is unusual. The pair met in the UK after Raijada moved there in 2010 for academic pursuits, culminating with an MBA. He initially worked as a carer for Dhir’s father before both got involved in the airline freight industry. It was Dhir’s background in this sector that possibly gave the couple insights into exploiting weaknesses in the system.
“I am quite satisfied that this work enabled you both to see where the weaknesses in the system were and how you could exploit them for your own financial gain,” Judge Edward Connell remarked, addressing them as a “ruthless team.”
A Web of Deceit and Forgery
Their scheme involved numerous illicit activities to make their drug exports appear legitimate. This included the falsification of documents, obtaining airway bills, and manipulating the security scanning system. The couple even went so far as to forge the signature of a former associate, Pankaj Patel, claiming he managed their illegal business. Not only that, but a Romanian cleaner, with whom Raijada was having an affair, was misleadingly listed as a company director.
The operation also took a fraudulent financial turn when they claimed furlough money during the COVID-19 pandemic for their business, which was ultimately a front for their illegal activities.
The partnership unraveled when Australian authorities seized one of their shipments, containing a substantial 568kg of cocaine worth £57m. The prosecution’s estimate was that over 18 months, the couple shipped cocaine valuing a whopping £700m to Australia on commercial aircraft.
Lavish Lifestyle and a Chilling Murder Accusation
The ill-gotten gains were laundered and converted into assets, which included gold purchases, a car, a flat, and the opening of 22 bank accounts. Nevertheless, their world came crashing down with one consignment’s interception. They subsequently destroyed all incriminating business records and deleted information from their phones.
Further intensifying their criminal profile, the couple are implicated in another grim affair—the Gujarat double murder. They are accused in India of arranging the assassination of 12-year-old orphan Gopal Sejani, a child Dhir had planned to adopt, to benefit from an Rs 1.3 crore insurance policy. The murder took place in 2017 in Keshod, Junagadh. Shockingly, in 2019, London courts denied their extradition to India.
Conclusion
The case of Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Mahendrasinh Raijada serves as a startling reminder of the depths of deception and criminality that can emerge from the pursuit of wealth and illicit profit. The Indian-origin couple’s cocaine smuggling UK conviction punctuates a life of crime that spanned continents.
For those seeking guidance on legal immigration procedures and adherence to international laws, it’s crucial to consult credible sources. Inform yourself through official immigration websites and resources such as the UK Home Office or the Australian Department of Home Affairs to ensure your travels and operations remain within the realms of the law.
Learn Today:
Glossary of Immigration Terminology:
- Drug smuggling: The illegal transportation of drugs across international borders, typically for the purpose of distribution and sale.
Money laundering: The process of making illegally obtained money appear legal by disguising its source through a series of complex transactions.
Cocaine export scheme: A coordinated plan to transport large quantities of cocaine from one country to another, typically for illegal distribution and sale.
Criminal conviction: The formal declaration by a court that an individual is guilty of a criminal offense.
Exportation: The act of sending goods or products from one country to another, often involving the crossing of international borders.
Money laundering: The process of making illegally obtained money appear legal by disguising its source through a series of complex transactions.
Southwark Crown Court: A criminal court in London, England, where serious cases, including drug smuggling and money laundering, are tried.
Acquaintance: A person known to someone, but not necessarily a close friend.
Accomplices: Individuals who assist or participate in the commission of a crime.
Airline freight industry: The sector of the aviation industry that focuses on the transportation of cargo and goods by air.
Exploit: To take advantage of or benefit from someone or something.
Illicit activities: Unlawful or illegal actions carried out by individuals or groups.
Document falsification: The act of forging or altering official documents to create false information or identities.
Airway bills: Documents that provide details about air cargo shipments, such as origin, destination, and contents.
Security scanning system: A system that uses various technologies, such as X-ray imaging, to detect prohibited items or substances in cargo or luggage.
Signature forgery: The act of imitating or copying someone’s signature without their authorization or knowledge.
Company director: An individual who oversees the management and operations of a company.
Furlough money: Financial support provided by the government to businesses or employees during temporary shutdowns or periods of reduced work, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commercial aircraft: Passenger planes or cargo planes used for business purposes, such as transportation of goods or people for profit.
Laundered money: Illegally obtained funds that have been disguised and made to appear legitimate through illicit activities such as money laundering.
Assets: Property, possessions, or resources that have value and can be owned or controlled by individuals or organizations.
Gold purchases: The acquisition of gold as an investment or store of value.
Bank accounts: Financial accounts held by individuals or organizations with banks or other financial institutions to deposit, withdraw, or transfer funds.
Extradition: The legal process by which an individual is transferred from one country to another for the purpose of facing charges or serving a sentence.
Adherence to international laws: Compliance with the legal principles, agreements, and treaties established between countries to govern international relations and activities.
Immigration procedures: The formal rules and regulations that govern the entry, stay, and departure of individuals in a country that is not their own.
UK Home Office: The government department responsible for immigration, law enforcement, and security in the United Kingdom.
Australian Department of Home Affairs: The government department responsible for immigration, border control, and national security in Australia.
In conclusion, the case of Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Mahendrasinh Raijada reminds us of the labyrinthine world of crime and deceit lurking beneath the pursuit of wealth. For trustworthy information on legal immigration procedures and international laws, visit visaverge.com and explore official immigration websites like the UK Home Office or the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Stay informed and stay law-abiding!
This Article in a Nutshell:
An Indian-origin couple in the UK has been sentenced to 66 years in prison for drug smuggling and money laundering. Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Mahendrasinh Raijada smuggled 7 tonnes of cocaine, worth £700m, from London to Australia. They also face accusations of arranging a double murder in India.
