[caption id="attachment_2135" align="aligncenter" width="723"] Charan Singh; Valjeet Singh; Swander Dhal; Amarjeet Alabadis; Diljan Malhotra; Jackdar Kapoor; Jaginder Singh Kapoor; Jasbeer Malhotra; Jasbir Dhal; Jasbir Kapoor; Joe Round; Louise Smith; Manmon Kapur; Mircea Denes; Pinky Kapur; Sundar Vengadassalam[/caption] Sixteen people from a west London-based organized crime group involved in international money laundering and migrant smuggling have been jailed for a total of more than 70 years. A National Crime Agency investigation found that members of the network are believed to have smuggled around £70 million in cash out of the UK, making hundreds of trips to Dubai, Emirates United Arab Emirates, from 2017 to 2019. NCA officers believe the money came from the sale of Class A drugs and organized immigration crime. Around £1.5 million was seized from couriers leaving the UK, but analysis of the thefts, evidence from Dubai cash declarations and other documents seized by the NCA shows This group has shipped more than that. As part of the investigation, NCA officers also discovered a plot involving members of the OCG to smuggle 17 migrants, including five children and a pregnant woman, into the Kingdom. UK on a truck carrying tires in 2019. The lorry was stopped by Dutch police, who were working with the NCA, before it could reach the ferry terminal at Hook of Holland. In November 2019, after weeks of surveillance, communications and flight data analysis, officers moved in to make the arrests. Gang leader Charan Singh, 44, from Hounslow, was among those arrested in a series of early morning raids in west London. Investigators were able to prove that Singh, who previously resided in the United Arab Emirates, paid for airfare to Dubai for other members of the network so they could receive cash . He also recorded how much goods were shipped and when. It shows at least 58 trips to Dubai were made by Singh and his couriers in 2017 alone. Further arrests followed and 18 people were eventually charged and prosecuted in two trials at Croydon Crown Court, which began in January 2023. The first trial, which ended in April, saw six people, including Singh, convicted of money laundering. Two defendants were also convicted of facilitating illegal immigration and a third individual. Midway through the second trial, which began in April, six defendants changed their pleas to guilty to money laundering. After a three-day sentencing hearing at Croydon Crown Court which ended today [September 15], Charan Singh was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in prison. His right-hand man, Valjeet Singh, was sentenced to 11 years in prison, while trusted lieutenant Sunder Singh Dhal was sentenced to 10 years for money laundering and another five years for smuggling migrants. The remaining 15 members of the criminal group were sentenced to between 9 years and 11 months. Proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act will now begin, aimed at identifying and seizing assets acquired through the gang's criminal activity. 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. “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.” Tackling organised immigration crime remains a top priority for the NCA, the agency has more than 90 ongoing investigations into networks or individuals in the top tier of organised immigration crime or human trafficking – the highest harm.