Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada, images via NCA |
In a recent verdict on Monday, an Indian-origin couple residing in the United Kingdom was found guilty of trafficking a staggering 514 kilograms of cocaine, valued at ₹600 crore (£57 million), to Australia via commercial flights.
The convicted individuals, identified as Arti Dhir, aged 59, and her husband Kavaljitsinh Raijada, 35, orchestrated their illicit operation under the guise of a company named ‘Viefly Freight Services’, using this front to smuggle drugs from London to Sydney.
Their scheme involved concealing the narcotics within metal toolboxes, a ploy that was intercepted by the Australian Border Force in May 2021, prompting UK authorities to intervene.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) meticulously traced the trail back to Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada, finding incriminating evidence such as Raijada's fingerprints on the packaging and receipts linking the couple to the toolboxes used in the shipment.
Furthermore, a search of their residence uncovered substantial amounts of gold-plated silver bars and millions in cash, indicating their involvement in extensive money laundering activities. It was revealed that their past employment at Heathrow Airport provided them with insider knowledge of freight procedures, facilitating their drug trafficking endeavors.
Following a trial at the Southwark Crown Court, the duo was convicted on 18 counts of money laundering and 12 counts of exportation, with legal measures underway to seize their ill-gotten gains.
Interestingly, the Indian government had previously sought their extradition in connection to a heinous crime: the murder of a 12-year-old orphan named Gopal Sejani and his brother-in-law Harsukhbhai Chaganbhal Kardani in Gujarat back in 2017. Despite efforts by the Indian government, the Westminster Magistrates’ Court declined the extradition request in July 2019, citing concerns over their treatment and the lack of assurances regarding their potential early release if incarcerated in Gujarat.
Arti Dhir, a British Indian with roots in Gurdaspur, Punjab, and Kavaljitsinh Raijada, an Indian national from Keshod, Gujarat, now face the consequences of their criminal actions as justice prevails in the UK court.
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