Sixteen people, five of whom lived in Southall, Northolt and Hanwell, have been sent to prison following a major National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation into a West London-based organised crime group involved in international money laundering and people smuggling.
Members of the network smuggled in excess of £42 million in cash out of the UK, making hundreds of trips to Dubai, UAE, between 2017 and 2019.
NCA investigators believe the money was profit from the sale of class A drugs and organised immigration crime.
Around £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 succeeded in transporting far more.
As part of the investigation NCA officers also uncovered a plot involving members of the OCG to smuggle 17 migrants, including five children and a pregnant woman, into the UK in the back of a van carrying tyres in 2019.
The van was intercepted by Dutch police, who were working with the NCA, before it could reach a ferry at the Hook of Holland.
In November 2019, following weeks of surveillance, communications and flight data analysis, officers moved in to make arrests. Gang ringleader Charan Singh, 44, from Hounslow, was among those detained in a series of early morning raids across west London.
Further arrests followed and those charged were prosecuted in two trials at Croydon Crown Court, starting in January 2023.
Those who appeared in court and were sentenced to jail:
Jasbir Singh Dhal, 32, from Norwood Rd, Southall, Middlesex found guiilty of conspiring to remove criminal property – sentenced to seven years and six months in prison
Mircea Denes, 45, previously of Yeading Lane, Northolt found guilty of conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law in his absence having absconded. Sentenced to six years in prison in his absence. Bench warrant issued for arrest.
Sundar Vengadassalm, 48, from Hadfield Close, Southall, Middlesex, found guilty of removing criminal property, and found NOT GUILTY of x5 separate counts of removing criminal property – sentenced to ten months in prison.
Jackdar Kapoor, 40, from Hillary Road, Southall pleaded guilty to x18 counts of removing criminal property – bailed pending sentencing – sentenced to four years and six months in prison
Jasbeer Singh Malhotra, 37, from High Trees Court, Manor Court Rd, Hanwell, pleaded guilty to x3 counts of removing criminal property – sentenced to one year and five months in prison
Following a three-day sentencing hearing at Croydon Crown Court which concluded today (15 September 2033), Charan Singh was handed a 12-and-a-half year jail term. His right hand man Valjeet Singh got 11 years, while trusted lieutenant Swander Singh Dhal got 10 years for money laundering and an additional five years for people smuggling.
The other 15 members of the crime group were given sentences ranging between nine years and 11 months.
Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings will now commence, with a view to identifying and seizing assets obtained as a result of the gang’s criminality.
NCA senior investigating officer Chris Hill said: “Charan Singh and his network thought they were untouchable, moving tens of millions of pounds of criminal cash out of the UK. The NCA mounted a long and complex investigation into their activities, and over a two year period we were able to evidence their involvement in money laundering and organised immigration crime.”
Mr Hill added: “The sentences handed down today marks the culmination of that investigation and years of work by our officers. We remain determined to protect the public and target criminal networks operated by those like Charan Singh, and we will use the full range of tactics at our disposal to disrupt and dismantle them.”
 investigation into a West London-based organised crime group involved in international money laundering and people smuggling.){kind=link}