Shocking Crime Story: Couple Jailed for Big Drug Deal
British-Indian Couple's Shocking Crime Spree: 33-Year Jail Sentence for Cocaine Smuggling
A really surprising story unfolded when Arti Dhir, 59, and Kavaljitsinh Raijada, 35, from Hanwell, London, got slapped with 33 years in prison each. Why? They were caught up in a huge drug operation, shipping around £700 million worth of cocaine to Australia from 2019 to 2021. But that's not all—they dodged going back to India for a different reason, involving some tragic murders.
Sad Events in Gujarat: Kidnapping and Tragedy
Their adopted son, 11-year-old Gopal Sejani, was kidnapped in Gujarat in 2017. It turned into a terrible scene when Gopal got stabbed and left on the side of the road. Even worse, his brother-in-law Harsukh Kardani got hurt trying to save him. Both didn't make it.
Big Charges: Plotting and Kidnapping
The couple faced some heavy charges back in February 2017 related to the Gujarat case. They were accused of plotting and kidnapping, and here's the shocking part: people said they might have planned Gopal's death to get a £150,000 insurance payout. Gopal used to live with his sister and brother-in-law, Harsukh.
Legal Twist and Getaway
Despite India wanting them for those murder charges, the couple cleverly avoided going back. They convinced the UK courts that if they went to Gujarat, it would be against their human rights.
Criminal Scheme Revealed
The trouble started when Australian authorities found out about a massive drug shipment and told the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA). The NCA dug deep and found nearly seven tonnes of cocaine, valued at £57 million in Australia. The couple was using a 'Breaking Bad'-style carwash to clean their dirty money.
Airport Experience Used for Crime
Dhir and Raijada, who worked at Heathrow Airport before, used their know-how to sneak drugs around the world. The NCA thinks their experience at the airport was a big help in pulling off their illegal plans.
Denials and Guilty Verdict
Even though they said they didn't do anything wrong, a jury thought otherwise. After a trial on January 29, they were convicted on 12 counts of sending drugs and 18 counts of moving around dirty money.
Hidden Riches and Fancy Stuff
When police arrested them in June 2021, they found loads of cash, gold-plated silver bars, and even more money hidden in different spots—almost £3 million! The couple also managed to buy an £800,000 house in Ealing and a £62,000 Land Rover. Surprisingly, they didn't tell the tax people about all this.
Tough Judge and Long Jail Time
In a long talk during the sentencing, Judge Edward Connell said the couple was the big brains behind the whole illegal operation. He didn't go easy on them and gave both of them 33 years behind bars. He also said, 'Drugs are bad for society. People do bad things when they use drugs. They bring sadness and health problems to the users.'
Teamwork Pays Off
Detective Superintendent Faux of the New South Wales Police Force Organized Crime Squad gave a thumbs up to the teamwork between Australian and UK authorities. He said it's crucial to work together to fight big crime networks globally.
Trying to Run Away from India
India had tried before to bring them back for the murder charges, but the UK courts said no. They thought sending them back to Gujarat for life without parole could violate their human rights.
Sorry and Defense
Arti Dhir's lawyer, Kane Sharpe, tried to lessen her involvement in the drug stuff. He pointed out that she didn't have a criminal history and usually worked normal jobs. Sharpe said Dhir respects what the jury decided but also apologizes for the whole mess, hoping for a not-so-harsh punishment.
