Bargain Hunt Star Jailed Over Terror Financing With Hezbollah Financier

Ochuko Ojiri, a 53-year-old art dealer and BBC Bargain Hunt expert, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to eight counts of failing to disclose information under the Terrorism Act 2000. Ojiri sold approximately £140,000 worth of artwork to Nazem Ahmad, a US-sanctioned financier linked to Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organization. Despite initially denying knowledge of Ahmad's background, Ojiri later admitted to conducting the sales for personal gain and to enhance his gallery's reputation. He attempted to conceal Ahmad's identity by altering invoices and storing his name under an alias, but investigators uncovered these efforts during a Metropolitan Police probe into terrorist financing. The investigation led to the seizure of over £1 million worth of art from Ahmad's warehouses, with authorities aiming to reinvest proceeds into law enforcement. This case marked the first prosecution under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000 concerning disclosures in the regulated art market.