"money laundering on a commercial scale"
Sixteen people have been convicted following an investigation into a London-based organised crime group that was involved in international money laundering and people smuggling.
Members of the gang smuggled £42 million in cash out of the UK, making hundreds of trips to Dubai between 2017 and 2019.
National Crime Agency investigators believe the money was profits from people smuggling and dealing Class A drugs.
Approximately £1.5 million was seized from couriers leaving the UK.
But flight analysis, evidence from cash declarations in Dubai and other material seized by the NCA showed the group had successfully transported far more.
In 2019, the same gang tried to smuggle 17 migrants – including five children and a pregnant woman – into the UK in the back of a van carrying tyres.
The van was intercepted by Dutch police before it could reach a ferry at the Hook of Holland.
In November 2019, after weeks of surveillance, communications and flight data analysis, officers moved in to make arrests.
Charan Singh, aged 44, of Hounslow, was identified as the ringleader.
He was among those detained in a series of early morning raids across West London.
Investigators were able to prove that Singh, formerly a resident of the UAE, paid for flights to Dubai for other members of the network so they could carry cash.
Singh also kept a ledger showing how much had been transported and when.
It showed that at least 58 trips to Dubai were made by Singh and his couriers in 2017 alone.
More members were arrested and those charged were prosecuted in two trials at Croydon Crown Court, starting in January 2023.
The first trial saw six people, including Singh, found guilty of money laundering offences. Two defendants were additionally convicted for facilitating illegal immigration along with a third individual.
Midway through the second trial, six defendants changed their plea to guilty in relation to money laundering offences.
As a result, reporting restrictions on the case were lifted on May 5, 2023.
Those found guilty included:
- Valjeet Singh, aged 34, of Hounslow
- Swander Singh Dhal, aged 37, of Hounslow
- Jasbir Singh Kapoor, aged 35, of Hayes
- Jasbir Singh Dhal, aged 32, of Southall
- Diljan Singh Malhotra, aged 47, of Uxbridge
- Mircea Denes, aged 45, previously of Northolt
- Sundar Vengadassalm, aged 48, of Southall
The 16 gang members are due to be sentenced in a hearing beginning on September 11, 2023.
NCA senior investigating officer Chris Hill said:
“This has been a long and complex investigation into an organised crime group involved in money laundering on a commercial scale and organised immigration crime.
“Over a two-year period, working together with partners in the UK and abroad, NCA investigators were able to uncover the evidence to secure these convictions.
“This case demonstrates the continued commitment by the NCA to protect the public and target the criminal networks involved in both people smuggling and money laundering.
“We will continue to use the full range of tactics at our disposal to disrupt and dismantle them.”
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