Major West London People Smuggling Gang Busted

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16 people convicted of charges including money laundering and drug dealing

Members of the gang are due to be sentenced in September

May 11, 2023

A significant organised crime operation based in west London involved in people smuggling and money laundering has been dismantled.

Sixteen people were convicted following a major investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) which found the network had smuggled over £42million in cash out of the country by making trips to Dubai, UAE, between 2017 and 2019.

The money is believed to have been the profits from organised immigration crime and the sale of Class A drugs. Those convicted included residents of Hounslow, Hanwell, Northolt and Southall but the gang also had members from the West Midlands.

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.

Investigators were able to prove that Singh, who was formerly resident in the UAE, paid for flights to Dubai for other members of the network so they could carry cash.

He also kept a ledger showing how much had been transported and when. It showed that at least 58 trips to Dubai were made by Singh and his couriers during 2017 alone.

Further arrests followed and those charged were prosecuted in two trials at Croydon Crown Court, starting in January 2023.

The first trial saw six people, including Singh, found guilty of money laundering offences. Two defendants were additionally convicted for facilitating illegal immigration along with a third individual.

Midway through the second trial six defendants changed their plea to guilty in relation to money laundering offences.

All 16 convicted are due to be sentenced in a hearing starting 11 September 2023, including two individuals who entered guilty pleas for money laundering offences prior to the two trials.

NCA senior investigating officer Chris Hill said, “This has been a long and complex investigation into an organised crime group involved in money laundering on a commercial scale and organised immigration crime.

“Over a two-year period, working together with partners in the UK and abroad, NCA investigators were able to uncover the evidence to secure these convictions.

“This case demonstrates the continued commitment by the NCA to protect the public and target the criminal networks involved in both people smuggling and money laundering.

“We will continue to use the full range of tactics at our disposal to disrupt and dismantle them.”

Details of convictions:

Trial 1

- CHARAN SINGH, (DOB 23/07/1978) from Victoria Gardens, Hounslow, Middlesex found GUILTY of conspiring to remove criminal property (money laundering) – remanded in custody until sentencing

- VALJEET SINGH, (DOB 20/04/1989), from Armytage Rd, Hounslow, Middlesex found GUILTY of conspiring to remove criminal property, x4 counts of removing criminal property, and NOT GUILTY of x2 separate counts of removing criminal property – remanded in custody until sentencing

- SWANDER SINGH DHAL (DOB 01/01/1986), from Springwell Rd, Hounslow, Middlesex found GUILTY of conspiring to remove criminal property, and conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law. NOT GUILTY of a separate count of conspiring to remove criminal property – remanded in custody until sentencing

- JASBIR SINGH KAPOOR (DOB 01/01/1988), from Gledwood Drive, Hayes, Middlesex found GUILTY of x2 counts conspiring to remove criminal property, and NOT GUILTY of conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law – remanded in custody until sentencing

- JASBIR SINGH DHAL (DOB 01/01/1991), from Norwood Rd, Southall, Middlesex found GUILTY of conspiring to remove criminal property – remanded in custody until sentencing

- DILJAN SINGH MALHOTRA (DOB 01/01/1976), from Dawley Avenue, Uxbridge, Middlesex, found NOT GUILTY of x2 counts of conspiring to remove criminal property, but GUILTY of conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law– remanded in custody until sentencing

- MIRCEA DENES (DOB 24/06/1977) previously of Yeading Lane, Northolt found GUILTY of conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law in his absence having absconded.

- VASILE COSTACHE (DOB 25/06/1968) previously of Great West Road, Hounslow, found NOT GUILTY of conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law

- SUNDAR VENGADASSALM (DOB 12/04/1975), from Hadfield Close, Southall, Middlesex, found GUILTY of removing criminal property, and found NOT GUILTY of x5 separate counts of removing criminal property – bailed pending sentencing

Trial 2

On 28/04/2023 Amarjeet ALABADIS pleaded GUILTY to x3 counts of removing criminal property (money laundering)

On 02/05/2023 Jaginder KAPOOR (DOB 01/01/1978) of Spencer Avenue, Hayes, pleaded GUILTY to x8 counts of removing criminal property

On 02/05/2023 Jackdar KAPOOR (DOB 01/01/1973) of Hillary Road, Southall pleaded GUILTY to x18 counts of removing criminal property

On 03/05/2023 Manmon Singh KAPUR (DOB 01/01/1975), from Napier Court, Dunedin Way, Hayes, pleaded GUILTY to x7 counts of removing criminal property

On 03/05/2023 Pinky KAPUR (DOB 28/08/1984) from Napier Court, Dunedin Way, Hayes pleaded GUILTY to one count of removing criminal property

On 03/05/2023 Jasbeer Singh MALHOTRA (DOB 25/01/1986), from High Trees Court, Manor Court Rd, Hanwell, pleaded GUILTY to x3 counts of removing criminal property

All of those convicted at the second trial have been bailed pending sentencing.


Prior to trial:

- Louise SMITH (DOB 09/11/1986) of School Street, Brierley Hill, Dudley
- Joe ROUND (DOB 12/06/1989) of Blewitt Street, Pensnett, Dudley

Both previously pleaded guilty to x2 counts of removing criminal property and bailed pending sentencing.

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