LONDON, Dec 21: In a significant legal development in Britain, two individuals of Indian origin, Anand Tripathi, aged 61, and Varun Bhardwaj, aged 39, have been collectively sentenced to 34 years in prison after a London trial found them guilty of orchestrating a drug smuggling operation. The duo also faced convictions about evading import duties on cigarettes, cleverly concealed within shipments of various food products from different regions.

An investigation led by the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) revealed that Tripathi and Bhardwaj utilized their freight company as a front to clear shipping containers holding both drugs and cigarettes. Subsequently, these containers were diverted from their intended destinations to a warehouse under their control, where organized crime groups would unload the illicit shipments.

Richard Partridge from the CPS emphasized the pivotal roles played by Tripathi and Bhardwaj in attempting to inundate UK streets with substantial quantities of illegal drugs. The success of this conspiracy, made possible by Tripathi's expertise in importation and customs clearance and Bhardwaj's day-to-day operation management, underscored the need for collaborative efforts among UK authorities to disrupt and prosecute such smuggling endeavors.

The duo faced conviction in November following a 71-day trial, during which the jury learned that the men had imported a total of 272.86 kilograms of cocaine and 2,503.36 kilograms of cannabis through four shipments spanning from September 2021 to November 2022. Notably, one shipment contained over two tonnes of cannabis hidden among yams from Ghana, while another, concealing 49 kilograms of cocaine, was disguised with oranges from South Africa. Although the estimated street value of the drugs amounted to GBP 28.9 million, law enforcement successfully seized and destroyed the narcotics before reaching the market.

Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Paul Fisher of the South West Regional Organized Crime Unit, the lead investigator, highlighted the significant involvement of the individuals in bringing commercial quantities of drugs into the UK. Through collaborative efforts with partner agencies, the organized crime network was dismantled, and vast quantities of drugs intended for the streets were eradicated. Tripathi and Bhardwaj received substantial sentences reflecting the magnitude of their offenses.

During a search of Bhardwaj's residence in Hounslow, west London, police discovered a one-kilogram packet of cannabis valued at GBP 10,000 in a cupboard under the stairs. Bhardwaj claimed it had fallen out of a shipment and asserted that he was "keeping it as evidence." On Friday, Bhardwaj was sentenced to 19 years in prison for charges including importing cocaine and cannabis, evading duty on cigarettes, possession of cannabis, and failure to disclose a PIN to a mobile phone. His accomplice, Tripathi, faced a 15-year sentence on similar charges.

Both individuals were also sentenced for not paying GBP 9,774,220 in import duties and VAT on 18.6 million cigarettes they smuggled, separate from the drug imports. The drugs and cigarettes were seized on various dates at English ports, including Portsmouth, Felixstowe, and London Gateway.

The police investigation revealed previous shipments seized by the UK Border Force during routine container searches at docks. The trial disclosed that Tripathi and Bhardwaj attempted to remain at arm's length from law enforcement by establishing shell companies, thus avoiding detection. However, their anonymity was compromised with a delivery mishap in Somerset, southwest England, in April 2022. The pair failed to divert a container, which instead reached a farm in Somerset, exposing plastic-covered blocks of cocaine with a street value of GBP 15 million hidden among animal feed from Colombia. The farmer, recognizing the suspicious packages from films and TV programs, reported the find to the police.