Gucci Gang Busted: Neelen Balarajah's £1.2M Drug and Fraud Ring Dismantled in NCA Sting!

Hi and welcome to this Video Production News Court Report.

A sophisticated organised crime group responsible for laundering millions in criminal cash, distributing class A and B drugs, and attempting to fraudulently acquire £1.5 million in government grants has been dismantled after an extensive two-year investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA). The culmination of this operation saw Rickinder Hare, 36, and Neelen Balarajah, 34, sentenced to a combined total of 14 years and six months for money laundering and conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

The operation began in earnest on January 19, 2022, when NCA officers observed Neelen Balarajah taking possession of a 'Gucci' embossed box from Hitesh Vadolia. Upon being challenged, Balarajah attempted to escape by driving his car at the arresting officers, necessitating the use of an unmarked vehicle to block him. Inside the box was over £20,000 in cash. Detailed analysis of telecommunications data pinpointed Rickinder Hare, of William Street, Knightsbridge, as the orchestrator of the exchange. Hare's arrest followed on July 20, 2022.

A thorough search of Balarajah’s residence in Pinner, Middlesex, uncovered a significant haul: large amounts of cash, herbal cannabis, cocaine, and numerous empty wrappings testing positive for cocaine traces. This evidence facilitated the identification of other cash couriers and peripheral gang members, who are now under separate police investigations.

The surveillance operation revealed the gang’s likely use of scrap metal dealers as a conduit for laundering cash. A courier was seen collecting bags suspected to contain cash, which were then delivered to a commercial premises dealing in scrap metal and corporate waste. It is believed the cash was used to pay criminals for stolen metal. This prompted coordinated action involving the British Transport Police, HMRC, and the Environment Agency against the scrap metal dealer.

Further investigations exposed the group's attempts to secure government grants and funding under the guise of waste removal from a commercial site they controlled. However, NCA investigations confirmed their lack of capacity to remove and legally dispose of the waste, with intentions to misappropriate the funds for other illicit ventures. To date, authorities have seized more than £1.2 million in cash and £350,000 in assets, including a £200,000 diamond-encrusted Rolex Daytona watch.

Hitesh Vadolia, the gang's cash courier, faced multiple money laundering charges related to cash transfers amounting to £270,000 but died before the trial commenced. In February 2024, Balarajah pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial after investigators found images on his phone proving that the empty wrappings found in his home had contained kilogram blocks of cocaine. On February 12, 2024, after a week-long trial at St Albans Crown Court, Hare was found guilty of money laundering. On June 6, Hare received a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 400 hours of community service. On July 15, 2024, Balarajah was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison.

Jason Hulme, Senior Manager for the NCA’s International Corruption Unit, remarked, “This crime group had tentacles reaching into many different activities, making millions from drugs and money laundering. The direct threat they posed to the public and the public purse has been neutralized. Our investigation has also identified several individuals closely linked to the group, including connections to politically exposed individuals overseas. We will continue investigating to determine the extent of their criminal network.”

Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.

Bénédict Tarot Freeman

Editor-at-Large

VPN City-Desk

citydesk@vpnldn.co.uk