In a story chillingly similar to the acclaimed TV series Ozark, an Indian-origin couple living in the UK has been sentenced to 33 years in prison each for a crime that transcends international borders. Arti Dhir, 59, and Kavaljitsinh Raijada, 35, from West London’s Ealing, are at the centre of a multi-million-pound drug trafficking operation that spanned continents, mirroring the intricate webs of deceit portrayed in the popular crime drama.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) unraveled the elaborate scheme when the Australian Border Force intercepted over half a tonne of cocaine, valued at a staggering 57 million pounds, which is over Rs 600 crore, upon its arrival in Sydney in May 2021. The drug-laden cargo, cleverly concealed within metal toolboxes, was traced back to the seemingly ordinary couple who had established a front company named Viefly Freight Services to facilitate their drugs smuggling network.

The Cocaine Caper

A court heard that the couple’s front company had dispatched the narcotics via a commercial flight from the UK. When authorities cracked open the metal toolboxes, they discovered a staggering 514 kilograms of cocaine. The street value of this illicit cargo in Australia, where drug prices soar well above those in the UK, was estimated to be 57 million pounds.

Dhir and Raijada vehemently denied the charges of exporting cocaine to Australia and money laundering. However, a jury at Southwark Crown Court convicted them on 12 counts of exportation and 18 counts of money laundering.

Web Of Deceit Unraveled

The NCA connected the dots leading to the convicted couple. Raijada’s fingerprints on the plastic wrappings of the toolboxes and receipts found at their residence were key evidence linking them to the crime. The agency revealed that the couple had orchestrated 37 consignments to Australia since June 2019, with 22 acting as decoys and 15 containing cocaine.

Both Dhir and Raijada had prior employment at a Heathrow flight services company, exploiting their insider knowledge of airport freight procedures to cloak their illicit activities. The intricate scheme, however, began to unravel when the couple was arrested at their Hanwell residence on June 21, 2021, leading to the discovery of substantial amounts of cash and gold-plated silver bars.

Money Trail And A Failsafe

Investigations in February last year exposed the extent of the couple’s hidden wealth. NCA officers uncovered almost 3 million pounds in cash concealed in boxes and suitcases at a storage unit in West London.

Financial inquiries revealed that despite declaring meager profits, the couple had purchased a flat in Ealing for 800,000 pounds (approx. Rs 8.5 crore) and a Land Rover for 62,000 pounds. Their cash deposits of nearly 740,000 pounds into 22 different bank accounts since 2019 raised suspicions of extensive money laundering.

“Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada used their insider knowledge of the air freight industry to traffic cocaine worth tens of millions of pounds from the UK to Australia, where they knew they could maximise their revenue,” Piers Phillips, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, said as quoted by news agency PTI.

Murder Allegations And Legal Battle

The couple faced extradition sought by India on charges of murdering their adopted son, Gopal Sejani, in Gujarat. The 11-year-old’s tragic fate unfolded in February 2017, with Indian police alleging a sinister plot involving adoption, insurance, and a staged kidnapping for an insurance payout.

The accused, who traveled to Gujarat in 2015 to adopt Gopal, promised the young boy a better life in London. However, Gopal was abducted, stabbed, and left by a roadside on February 8, 2017.

The couple reportedly placed an advertisement in a local newspaper, enticing prospective parents with the promise of bringing an adopted child to live in London. Gopal, a farm boy living with his older sister and her husband, became the target of their plan. Indian police alleged that Dhir and Raijada had ulterior motives beyond providing a home for Gopal.

India’s extradition request was denied in 2019, followed by an unsuccessful appeal in the High Court in London in 2020. 

Ahead of the budget session of the Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sounded a warning to the opposition urging them to not disrupt the proceedings. “I hope the MPs who are in the habit of ripping apart democratic values will self-introspect on what they did in their term as members of Parliament,” he said.

“Those who contributed positively to the Parliament will be remembered by all. But those members who caused disruptions will hardly be remembered. This budget session is an opportunity for repentance and to leave positive footprints. I urge all the MPs not to miss this opportunity and perform their best,” PM Modi added.

“I am of the firm belief that the country is moving forward and touching new heights of progress … the country is experiencing all-round and inclusive development,” he said.

The Budget Session, which is scheduled to conclude on February 9, will also witness Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presenting the interim budget on February 1.

PM Modi also said that the BJP would present the full budget once the new government is formed.

“We are going to follow the tradition of presenting a full budget after the new government is formed,” PM Modi said.

In a move to fortify the integrity of the H-1B registration process and mitigate fraud risks, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a final rule for the fiscal year 2025 (FY 2025) H-1B cap.

The rule introduces a beneficiary-centric selection process, ensuring fairness and equal opportunities for all beneficiaries, regardless of the number of registrations submitted on their behalf.

Registrations will now be selected based on unique beneficiaries, reducing the potential for fraud and ensuring equal chances of selection. Beginning with the FY 2025 initial registration period, USCIS will mandate registrants to provide valid passport information or valid travel document information for each beneficiary.

The final rule clarifies requirements regarding the requested employment start date on certain petitions subject to the H-1B cap, allowing filing with requested start dates after October 1 of the relevant fiscal year.

The rule codifies USCIS’ ability to deny or revoke H-1B petitions if the registration contains false attestation or is otherwise invalid.

USCIS has also announced a Fee Schedule final rule, effective after the initial registration period for FY 2025 H-1B cap.

The initial registration period for the FY 2025 H-1B cap will open on March 6, 2024, and run through March 22, 2024.

USCIS will launch organisational accounts on February 28, 2024, allowing collaboration on H-1B registrations, petitions, and associated forms. Online filing of Form I-129 and Form I-907 for non-cap H-1B petitions will also commence on the same date.

While petitioners can continue to file paper Form I-129 H-1B petitions, online filing options will be available starting April 1, 2024.

USCIS Director Ur M Jaddou stated, “The improvements in these areas should make H-1B selections more equitable for petitioners and beneficiaries and will allow for the H-1B process to be fully electronic from registration until final decision.”

These reforms aim to enhance the overall H-1B programme, making it more transparent, efficient, and resistant to fraudulent activities.