Altaf Khanani


Altaf Khanani is a Pakistani fraudster and money launderer who was involved in moving money for terrorist groups and criminal gang groups. He is currently serving his 68 months prison in the United States.

Early life and family

He was born in 1961 to Memon family who were originally from Gujarat, India before migrating to Pakistan after independence. His father Abdul Sattar Khanani who was a street dealer and businessman. He was the twin brother of Javed Khanani who was involved in Khanani and Kalia Int. fraud. His brother committed suicide in 2016.

Money laundering

Khanani's money laundering organisation was involved in the illicit international movement of money between, among others, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Among the methods used was the traditional Hawala system. Among others, the organization moved money for drug cartels, biker gangs, Hezbollah, al-Qaida and the armed terrorists behind the Mumbai attacks of 1993 and 2008.

Arrest

He was arrested in Panama and later handed over to the United States. Khanani was arrested in September 2016 by the US Drug Enforcement Administration, and has since remained in jail in the United States. He was indicted in the US District Court of the Southern District of Florida on fourteen counts of money laundering in June 2015. He was also blacklisted by the United States along with his son Obaid Khanani and nephew Hozaifa Khanani. Khanani was released from prison on July 13, 2020.

Conviction in the United States

In a plea bargain, Khanani pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit laundering.