Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada, images via NCA |
On Monday, a United Kingdom court delivered a verdict against an Indian-origin couple, finding them guilty of smuggling a staggering 514 kg 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, aged 35, had orchestrated their operation under the guise of a front company named ‘Viefly Freight Services.’ This operation was designed to transport narcotics from London to Sydney, concealing them ingeniously within a shipment of metal toolboxes.
Their illicit activities came to light when, in May 2021, the Australian Border Force intercepted the drug-laden consignment and promptly alerted authorities in the UK. Following this interception, the National Crime Agency (NCA) conducted a thorough investigation, linking the drugs back to Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada. The evidence was compelling, including Raijada’s fingerprints discovered on the plastic wrapping of the smuggled goods, and the recovery of incriminating receipts from their residence.
The investigation also uncovered additional illicit gains amassed by the couple, including gold-plated silver bars and a substantial sum of cash. It was revealed that their past employment at a flight services company at Heathrow Airport provided them with insider knowledge of airport freight procedures, facilitating their criminal enterprise.
Following a trial at the Southwark Crown Court, a jury found Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada guilty on multiple charges, including money laundering and exportation. Legal proceedings are now underway to confiscate their unlawfully acquired assets.
Interestingly, the Indian government had previously sought the extradition of the duo 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 Junagadh city, Gujarat, on 8th February 2017.
The extradition request, however, was denied by the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 2nd July 2019. Despite assurances from the Indian government regarding the couple's eligibility for early release if imprisoned in Gujarat, the court ruled against extradition, citing concerns over their prospects for early release.
Arti Dhir, a British Indian born in Nairobi, traces her family roots to Gurdaspur, Punjab, while Kavaljitsinh Raijada, an Indian national from Keshod, Gujarat, was also involved in the nefarious activities.
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