Ten held for money-laundering, trafficking

TEN Indian-origin suspected members of an organised crime group believed to have flown an estimated £15.5 million out of the UK to Dubai in suitcases have been charged by the British authorities.

The nine men and one woman, aged between 30 and 44, were arrested on Wednesday (20), as part of a National Crime Agency (NCA) probe into a conspiracy to launder millions of pounds of money made through drug trafficking and organised immigration crime.

Seven individuals, including Charan Singh, 41, Valjeet Singh, 30, Jasbir Singh Dhal, 28, Sundar Vengadassalam, 44, Jasbeer Singh Malhotra, 33, Pinky Kapur, 35, Manmon Singh Kapur, 44, were each charged with conspiracy to launder criminal cash and being a member of an organised crime group.

Meanwhile, Swander Singh Dhal, 33, Jasbir Singh Kapoor, 31, and Diljan Malhotra, 43, have been charged with the same offences and an additional charge of conspiracy to support illegal immigration.

The NCA investigation was supported by the Dubai Police, Border Force, and the Metropolitan Police Service.

Officials believe that the group also tried to smuggle 17 migrants into the country this summer.

The suspects are alleged to have been part of a well-orchestrated conspiracy to launder millions of pounds of money made through Class A drugs and organised immigration crime, transferring it from the UK to Dubai over the last three years.

Examinations of travel history suggest this crime group has transported more than £14m in 2017 and 2018 alone.

A 41-year-old man alleged to be the head of the network was arrested at his home in Hayes. He and the other suspects were arrested on suspicion of money laundering and facilitating illegal immigration.

NCA officers recovered a quantity of cash, illegal drugs and luxury cars, including Range Rovers, Audi Q7s and BMW 5 series, during raids in Hounslow, Hayes, Uxbridge, and Southall.

Ben Russell, Deputy Director of the National Economic Crime Centre, said: “The National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) was able to assist the case team in arranging forensic analysis of seized bank notes. We were also able to use our relationships with our international partners in the UAE to obtain evidence in relation to this case.”

The raids follow an NCA investigation, supported by the Met Police, into cash seizures totalling more than £1.5m made by Border Force officers over the course of 2019.

In all cases, the cash was being transported between the UK airports and ports and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).