Our Bureau
London
The UK’s National Crime Agency, NCA has uncovered an organized criminal group with Indian members after a two-year investigation, and will continue to investigate their connections to “politically exposed individuals abroad”.
The NCA stated that Rickinder Hare, 36, Neelen Balarajah, 34, and Hitesh Vadolia, 54, were part of a gang that laundered millions of criminal origin money and distributed prohibited class A and B drugs. They were also being sought for trying to fraudulently obtain GBP 1.5 million in government grants.
On Monday, Balarajah received a sentence of 13 years and six months in prison, while Hare was given a one-year prison sentence, which was suspended for two years, along with 400 hours of community service the previous month. Vadolia, known as the “cash courier”, was accused of several charges related to money laundering involving GBP 270,000 in cash transfers, but passed away prior to the trial.
Senior Manager for the NCA’s International Corruption Unit, Jason Hulme said, “This crime group had tentacles reaching into many different activities, and were making millions from drugs and money laundering”. He also said, “The direct threat posed to the public, and the public purse, has been prevented, but our investigation has identified a number of individuals closely linked to the group, as well as connections to politically exposed individuals overseas. We will continue investigating to determine if any of these were associated with their criminal activity”.
NCA officers observed Balarajah received a “Gucci” embossed box from Hitesh Vadolia in January 2022. When confronted, Balarajah tried to run away by driving his car towards the police officers, who had to stop him using a plain vehicle. The box was discovered to hold more than GBP 20,000 in cash by the investigators.
Through in-depth analysis of telecommunication data, investigators from the NCA determined that Hare, who is based in London, had orchestrated the exchange and was taken into custody in July 2022. Police officers subsequently conducted a search at Balarajah’s residence in north London where they discovered a significant sum of money, herbal cannabis, cocaine, and various empty packets that were also found to contain cocaine residue.
During the trial in February, Balarajah admitted guilt on the initial day when it was uncovered through images on his phone that the empty wrappers discovered at his residence had truly held kilo blocks of cocaine. Hare was convicted of money laundering on February 12, 2024, following a trial at St. Albans Crown Court that lasted a week and has received his sentence.
Till now, the NCA has taken over £1.2 million in cash and assets totaling £3,50,000, containing a ‘Gucci’ embossed box with over £20,000 in cash and a Rolex Daytona, diamond-encrusted watch valuing over £2,00,000.
