LONDON (AP) — Oghenochuko Ojiri, a 53-year-old art expert known for his appearances on the BBC’s Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison. The sentencing took place on Friday at London's Central Criminal Court, commonly referred to as the Old Bailey. Ojiri was convicted for failing to report the sale of high-value artworks to a suspect linked to the financing of Hezbollah, the militant group based in Lebanon.
Ojiri pleaded guilty to eight offenses under the Terrorism Act 2000. The illicit art transactions occurred between October 2020 and December 2021, during which he sold approximately £140,000 ($185,000) worth of artworks to Nazem Ahmad. Ahmad, a diamond and art dealer, has been sanctioned by both the U.K. and the U.S. for his alleged connections to Hezbollah financing. These sanctions were established to prohibit any trading activities involving Ahmad or his businesses within the U.K. and the U.S.
During the sentencing, Justice Bobbie Cheema-Grubb emphasized that Ojiri’s actions would be met with serious repercussions, noting the potential for a five-year prison term. In addition to the prison sentence, Ojiri will also be under supervision for one additional year after his release. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, stated that this prosecution marks a significant milestone, as it is the first of its kind involving specific legislation under the Terrorism Act. Murphy stressed that art dealers need to recognize the gravity of engaging in business with individuals identified as funders of terrorist organizations.
The Metropolitan Police investigation into Ojiri was conducted in collaboration with U.S. Homeland Security, which is pursuing a broader inquiry into allegations of money laundering by Ahmad involving shell companies. Ahmad was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2019 for his prominent role in money laundering activities, including the smuggling of blood diamonds. These diamonds are often mined in conflict zones and sold to finance violence.
Moreover, in 2021, the U.K. Treasury took action by freezing Ahmad’s assets due to his financial support for Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shiite militant group recognized as an international terrorist organization. Following Ojiri's arrest in April 2023, law enforcement obtained a warrant to confiscate several artworks linked to Ahmad, including notable pieces by Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. These artworks, held in two warehouses in the U.K., are valued at nearly £1 million. It has been announced that the proceeds from the sale of these artworks will be reinvested into the Metropolitan Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the Home Office.
This case serves as a crucial reminder for the art community regarding the legal and ethical responsibilities that come with dealing high-value artworks, particularly when potential connections to terrorism financing are involved. The outcome of Ojiri’s case could lead to heightened scrutiny of art transactions and further investigations into connections between art dealings and illicit financing activities globally.
