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10 people were arrested and charged as part of a long-running investigation into the gang
A criminal gang laundered more than £53 million through Post Office branches across Leicester using a sophisticated operation involving money mules and cryptocurrency.
The group used a token system to manage cash deliveries and carefully broke down the money into smaller amounts in an attempt to avoid detection. Operation Kilo, which began in 2021 and spanned more than four years, uncovered the complex cash-based money laundering scheme running through the Post Office network in the city.
Criminal cash was transported into Leicester from around the country and entered the banking system through Post Office branches across the county between 2019 and 2021. The gang were systematic in their approach, using different individuals to make deposits across a number of bank accounts at multiple Post Office locations.
Operation Kilo led to 10 people being arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
In an ironic twist, the leader of the criminal operation was Jigar Gheewala, a 45-year-old who had been declared bankrupt. Criminal money from around the country would be couriered into Leicester under his instruction, with Gheewala acting as the sole point of contact with a cryptocurrency business which was used to transfer the laundered cash into the crypto market.
Working alongside him was Rajul Patel, 50, who acted as Gheewala’s right hand man and watchdog of the operation. When cash was being handled, Patel was often there physically to make sure all went well, usually hidden just around the corner, and served as custodian of bank cards used to pay in and launder the cash.
The gang recruited trusted operatives to carry out the day-to-day laundering work across the city. Bhavik Kotecha, 49, a Leicester businessman, used his company White Tiger Group Limited as a vehicle to launder the proceeds, handling cash deliveries and creating hundreds of false invoices to cover the group’s tracks, while Salim Seedat, 55, was seen going into Post Office branches depositing bundle after bundle of cash using a series of cards, some with post-it notes attached showing PIN codes.
Nearly £250,000 in cash was intercepted as part of the operation. Further assets recovered and restrained included numerous properties, more than £200,000 of gold bars, designer clothing and jewellery.
Gang leader Gheewala and associates David Nichols – who transported the cash as a delivery man – and Vahid Shaikh – who helped break down the cash into smaller amounts – all pleaded guilty to the charges at previous court appearances.
Seedat pleaded guilty on the first day of the trial at Leicester Crown Court and the remaining six defendants stood trial.
After nearly 10 weeks, Kotecha, Rajul Patel and Imran Vaid were found guilty of all the charges. Two men and a woman who were also on trial were found not guilty.
Detective Constable Catherine Richards from the force’s Economic Crime Unit (ECU) was the investigating officer in the case. She said: “During the investigation I had been a detective within ECU for more than 10 years and Operation Kilo must be one of the most complex and lengthy investigations I have been involved in.
“Vast amounts of money were laundered by this group, estimated to be more than £53m over two years. The money was used to purchase crypto currency and fund the lifestyle of the defendants.”
Those convicted were sentenced to more than 35 years in prison between them. Gheewala, formerly of Leela Close, Countesthorpe, was sentenced to 11 years and 10 months in prison and banned from becoming a company director for 14 years, while Kotecha, formerly of June Avenue, Thurmaston, was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison and banned from becoming a company director for 12 years.
Patel, formerly of Bristol Avenue, near Abbey Park, received eight years in prison and was banned from becoming a company director for 10 years. Seedat, formerly of Earl Howe Street, Highfields, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison.
Vaid, formerly of Hartley Avenue, East Ham, London, was sentenced to two years and two months in prison, and Nichols, of Elm Avenue, Thongsbridge, Kirklees, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years.
Shaikh, of Heybridge Road, Humberstone, failed to appear in court for sentencing and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Financial Crime Supervisor Laura Panter, from the force’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “This was a challenging investigation into a crime gang who were engaged in a complex money laundering scheme.
“Acting as a professional laundering service to individuals across the UK, they were organised and methodical in their approach, taking every opportunity they could to try and cover their tracks and keep their criminality under the radar.”
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