From Gujarat murder to Australian drug trafficking: Downfall of Indian-origin couple's empire
PTC News Desk: In a real-life narrative reminiscent of the popular TV series Ozark, Arti Dhir, 59, and Kavaljitsinh Raijada, 35, residing in West London's Ealing, have been handed 33-year prison sentences each for orchestrating a sophisticated drug trafficking operation that transcended international borders.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) played a pivotal role in unraveling this intricate web of crime. The saga began when the Australian Border Force intercepted a massive haul of over half a tonne of cocaine, valued at a staggering £57 million (over ₹600 crore), upon its arrival in Sydney in May 2021. The concealed contraband, ingeniously hidden within metal toolboxes, led investigators back to the seemingly ordinary couple at the heart of the operation.
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Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada had crafted an elaborate front, establishing a company named Viefly Freight Services to facilitate their expansive drug smuggling network. This clandestine operation spanned continents, drawing parallels to the complex schemes portrayed in the acclaimed crime drama Ozark.
The scope of their criminal enterprise goes beyond drug trafficking. The couple has also been linked to a murder case in Gujarat, India, adding a chilling layer to their already notorious profile. As their global empire crumbles under the weight of criminal charges, the duo's story serves as a stark reminder of the dark underbelly of transnational crime networks.
In a courtroom revelation, it was disclosed that the couple's front company had shipped narcotics via a commercial flight from the UK. Authorities, upon opening the metal toolboxes, were astounded to find an unprecedented 514 kilograms of cocaine. The street value of this contraband in Australia, where drug prices far surpass those in the UK, reached an estimated 57 million pounds.
Despite Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada vehemently denying charges related to exporting cocaine to Australia and engaging in money laundering, a jury at Southwark Crown Court rendered a verdict convicting them on 12 counts of exportation and 18 counts of money laundering.
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The National Crime Agency (NCA) successfully unraveled the intricate web of deceit surrounding the convicted couple. Vital evidence, including Raijada's fingerprints on the plastic wrappings of the toolboxes and discovered receipts at their residence, served as crucial links to the crime. The agency disclosed that the couple had masterminded 37 consignments to Australia since June 2019, utilizing 22 as decoys and 15 for smuggling cocaine.
Exploiting their past employment at a Heathrow flight services company, both Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada leveraged insider knowledge of airport freight procedures to conceal their illicit activities. The complex scheme, however, began to unravel when the couple was apprehended at their Hanwell residence on June 21, 2021. This led to the discovery of significant amounts of cash and gold-plated silver bars, ultimately exposing their criminal enterprise.
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Delving into financial investigations in February of the previous year laid bare the depth of the couple's concealed wealth. In a scenario reminiscent of Walter White's cash stockpile in the acclaimed crime drama Breaking Bad, officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) unearthed an astounding nearly £3 million in cash hidden within boxes and suitcases at a storage unit in West London.
Financial scrutiny brought to light that, despite declaring modest profits, the couple had made significant purchases, including an £800,000 flat in Ealing (approximately ₹8.5 crore) and a Land Rover worth £62,000. Suspicion was further heightened by cash deposits totaling nearly £740,000 into 22 different bank accounts since 2019, indicating potential extensive money laundering.
Piers Phillips, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, remarked, "Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada used their insider knowledge of the air freight industry to traffic cocaine worth tens of millions of pounds from the UK to Australia, where they knew they could maximize their revenue," as quoted by news agency PTI.
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In the midst of a convoluted narrative, the couple found themselves embroiled in extradition proceedings initiated by India, stemming from allegations of murdering their adopted son, Gopal Sejani, in Gujarat. The tragic fate of the 11-year-old unfolded in February 2017, with Indian police unveiling a disturbing plot involving adoption, insurance, and a staged kidnapping for an insurance payout.
Having traveled to Gujarat in 2015 to adopt Gopal, the accused promised the young boy a better life in London. However, Gopal's life took a tragic turn as he was abducted, stabbed, and left by a roadside on February 8, 2017.
Reports suggest that the couple placed an advertisement in a local newspaper, enticing prospective parents with the promise of bringing an adopted child to London. Gopal, a farm boy residing with his older sister and her husband, became the unfortunate target of their alleged plan. Indian police contended that Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada harbored ulterior motives beyond providing a home for Gopal.
India's extradition request faced denial in 2019, followed by an unsuccessful appeal in the High Court in London in 2020, further adding complexity to this multifaceted saga.
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(Inputs from agencies)
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