UK Court Sentences 16 in Money Laundering and People Smuggling Case

Sixteen individuals, including many of Indian origin, have been sentenced to jail terms totaling over 70 years for their involvement in international money laundering and people smuggling in the UK. The National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation revealed that members of an organized crime group, led by Charan Singh, were likely to have smuggled around £70 million out of the UK to Dubai between 2017 and 2019, profiting from drug sales and organized immigration crime.

Charan Singh received a 12-and-a-half-year sentence, his associate Valjeet Singh received 11 years, and Swander Singh Dhal was sentenced to 10 years for money laundering and an additional five years for people smuggling. Other members of the group received sentences ranging from nine years to 11 months. The NCA uncovered a plot to smuggle 17 migrants into the UK in 2019. Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings will follow to identify and seize assets obtained through criminal activity.