An east London man has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty of sending night vision and thermal imaging rifle scopes to support terrorist activities by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Muhammad Choudhary, 41, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on 15 October 2024, following a joint investigation by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.
Choudhary, who previously pleaded guilty to terrorism funding and fundraising offences, was also given an additional one-year extension to be served on licence after his release.
The investigation revealed that between 2017 and 2018, Choudhary sent multiple thermal imaging night vision rifle scopes to Pakistan, with the intention of supporting Taliban forces involved in attacks against the then-Afghan Government and coalition forces.
Acting Commander Gareth Rees, of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said:
“This case demonstrates how terrorist activity can take many different forms. We will thoroughly investigate and pursue anyone in the UK who supports terrorism, regardless of the cause or location. This investigation resulted from the cooperation between Government agencies, highlighting the importance of collaboration in fighting terrorism.”
The case first came to the attention of HMRC in January 2018, when a consignment of rifle scopes destined for Pakistan was seized at Heathrow Airport. Further inquiries identified Choudhary as the person responsible for sending the equipment. Upon investigation, it was revealed that he had purchased the scopes from legitimate hunting suppliers, but later admitted that the end users were members of the Taliban.
Mike Pass, Assistant Director of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, emphasized the UK’s strict licensing regime for military equipment, saying:
“The UK upholds international sanctions and controls to prevent military goods from falling into the wrong hands. We remain committed to working with law enforcement partners to protect national security.”
In January 2024, Choudhary pleaded guilty to charges of fundraising for the purposes of terrorism and making funding arrangements for terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000. Although initially charged with 23 offences under the Customs and Excise Management Act (1979), these charges were laid on file after Choudhary pleaded not guilty to them in February.
Choudhary’s conviction serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism at home and abroad.
