Drug and Cigarette Smuggler Locked Up for Nearly Five Years
A man caught smuggling nearly a million pills and over half a million cigarettes into the UK has been jailed for four years and eight months. Rajveer Wadhwa, 43, was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday, 14 August, after a huge police raid uncovered his illegal stash.
Massive Haul Found in Hounslow Units
Back in February 2017, officers from the Met’s Aviation Policing Command swooped on three commercial units on Cranford Lane, Hounslow, acting on a tip-off. Inside, they seized a staggering 988,500 tramadol and diazepam tablets, 588,200 cigarettes, and smaller amounts of other drugs.
The units were registered to Wadhwa, who lived in Hayes. Cops quickly zeroed in on him, raiding his home and car. They found around £17,000 in cash and a quantity of Class B drugs, believed to have been smuggled in via ferries docking at the Port of Felixstowe.
Smuggling Made Possible via Ferry
Investigating officer PC Tom Blair praised the thorough probe: “This fantastic result is thanks to a pro-active, intelligence-led investigation into smuggling at airports. We have taken a vast quantity of prescription-only drugs off London’s streets.”
He added, “These are drugs which, if not issued under strict medical guidance, can be addictive and dangerous. Today’s result shows our determination to prevent the harm caused by such drugs and to bring to justice those who break the law.”
Criminal Charges and Guilty Pleas
- Possession of goods to evade duty (Customs and Excise Management Act 1979)
- Possession of Class B controlled drug (Amphetamine)
- Possession with intent to supply Class C drugs (Tramadol and Diazepam)
- Concealing criminal property (Proceeds of Crime Act 2002)
Wadhwa was charged in December 2017 and faced court in January 2018, initially pleading guilty to most charges but denying concealing criminal property. He later admitted all charges at a hearing on 31 July.
The lengthy jail term sends a clear message: smugglers peddling dangerous drugs and dodging duty won’t get off lightly.
