Altaf Khanani - Revision history

Veirdo: add references to improve readability and improved wording to improve readability

2026-03-27T09:36:36Z

add references to improve readability and improved wording to improve readability

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:06, 27 March 2026
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	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Altaf Khanani		\| name = Altaf Khanani
			\| native_name = {{nastaliq\|الطاف خانانی}}
			\| native_name_lang = ur
	\| image =		\| image =
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| birth_name =		\| birth_name =
	\| birth_date = {{birth date and age\|df=yes\|1961\|5\|2}}<ref name="abc.net.au">{{cite news\|last=Besser \|first= Linton \|date=5 February 2018\|title=Catching the money man \|work=[[ABC News (Australia)\|ABC News]] \|location=Australia \|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-05/the-billion-dollar-bust/9383890 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205230736/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-05/the-billion-dollar-bust/9383890 \|archive-date=5 February 2018 \|url-status=live}}</ref>		\| birth_date = {{birth date and age\|df=yes\|1961\|5\|2}}<ref name="abc.net.au">{{cite news\|last=Besser \|first= Linton \|date=5 February 2018\|title=Catching the money man \|work=[[ABC News (Australia)\|ABC News]] \|location=Australia \|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-05/the-billion-dollar-bust/9383890 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205230736/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-05/the-billion-dollar-bust/9383890 \|archive-date=5 February 2018 \|url-status=live}}</ref>
	\| birth_place = [[Karachi]], Pakistan		\| birth_place = [[Karachi]], [[Sindh]], [[Pakistan]]
	~~\| nationality = Pakistani~~		\| occupation = Money launderer and criminal
	\| occupation = Money launderer
	\| relatives =		\| relatives =
	\| children = 5		\| children = 5
	\| criminal_charges = ~~<!-- Criminality parameters should be supported with citations from reliable sources -->~~		\| criminal_charges =
	\| criminal_penalty = 68 months in prison		\| criminal_penalty = 68 months in prison
	\| criminal_status = ~~Imprisoned~~		\| criminal_status = Released
	}}		}}

	'''Altaf Khanani''' ({{~~lang-~~ur\|{{nq\|الطاف خانانی}}}}; born 2 May 1961) is a Pakistani money launderer who was involved in moving money for terrorist groups and criminal ~~gang groups~~.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=How Australia trapped Altaf Khanani \|newspaper=[[The News International]] \|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/277826-how-australia-trapped-khanani \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903114957/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/277826-how-australia-trapped-khanani \|archive-date=3 September 2018 \|url-status=live}}</ref> After serving three years in prison he was released in July 2020.<ref>[https://www.bop.gov/mobile/find_inmate/index.jsp#inmate_results (B.O.P. Register Number: 06369-104)]</ref>		'''Altaf Sattar Khanani'''<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Altaf Sattar Khanani \|url=https://opencorporates.com/officers/38493386 \|access-date=2025-12-15 \|website= \|publisher=[[Companies House\|UK Companies House]] \|via=[[Open Corporates]]}}</ref> ({{langx\|ur\|{{nastaliq\|الطاف خانانی}}\|Alt̤āf Xānānī}}; born 2 May 1961) is a Pakistani money launderer who as the founder of the foreign exchange [[Khanani & Kalia International]] was involved in moving money for terrorist groups and criminal gangs.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=How Australia trapped Altaf Khanani \|newspaper=[[The News International]] \|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/277826-how-australia-trapped-khanani \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903114957/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/277826-how-australia-trapped-khanani \|archive-date=3 September 2018 \|url-status=live}}</ref> After serving three years in a US prison he was released in July 2020.<ref>[https://www.bop.gov/mobile/find_inmate/index.jsp#inmate_results (B.O.P. Register Number: 06369-104)]</ref>

	==Early life and family==		==Early life and family==
	He was born in 1961 to [[Memon people\|Memon family]] who were originally from [[Gujarat]], India before migrating to Pakistan after independence.<ref name="abc.net.au"/> His father Abdul Sattar Khanani ~~who~~ was a street dealer and businessman.<ref name="abc.net.au"/> He was the twin brother of Javed Khanani ~~who~~ was involved in [[Khanani and Kalia Int.]] ~~fraud~~.<ref name="abc.net.au"/> His brother ~~allegedly~~ committed suicide in 2016.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1300463\|title=Javed Khanani dies after falling from building in Karachi, say police\|first=Imtiaz\|last=Ali\|date=4 December 2016\|newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)\|Dawn]] \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214165421/http://www.dawn.com/news/1300463 \|archive-date=14 December 2016 \|url-status=live}}</ref>		He was born in 1961 to a [[Memon people\|Memon family]] who were originally from [[Gujarat]], India before migrating to Pakistan after independence.<ref name="abc.net.au"/> His father Abdul Sattar Khanani was a street dealer and businessman.<ref name="abc.net.au"/> He was the twin brother of Javed Khanani and with him was involved in money laundering through [[Khanani and Kalia Int.\|Khanani and Kalia International]].<ref name="abc.net.au"/> His brother reportedly committed suicide in 2016.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1300463\|title=Javed Khanani dies after falling from building in Karachi, say police\|first=Imtiaz\|last=Ali\|date=4 December 2016\|newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)\|Dawn]] \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214165421/http://www.dawn.com/news/1300463 \|archive-date=14 December 2016 \|url-status=live}}</ref>

	==Money laundering==		==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]].<ref name="auto">{{cite news\|title=Khanani group launders billions of dollars: US report\|first=Anwar \|last=Iqbal \|date=4 March 2017 \|newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)\|Dawn]] \|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1318333 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304052357/https://www.dawn.com/news/1318333 \|archive-date=4 March 2017 \|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 Bombay bombings\|1993]] and [[2008 Mumbai attacks\|2008]].<ref name="Schliebs">{{cite news\|last=Schliebs \|first=Mark \|date=13 November 2016 \|title=Money launderer Khanani's deal wipes out 273 years of jail time \|newspaper=[[The Australian]] \|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/foreign-affairs/money-launderer-khananis-deal-wipes-out-273-years-of-jail-time/news-story/5aeb30a5bdcb82d1491eb7322570864b \|access-date=5 September 2018 \|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="Al-J-101">{{Cite news\|title=The Billion Dollar Criminal \|date=4 October 2018 \|newspaper=Al Jazeera \|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/101east/2018/10/billion-dollar-criminal-181004053619015.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004154849/https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/101east/2018/10/billion-dollar-criminal-181004053619015.html \|archive-date=4 October 2018 \|url-status=live}}</ref>		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]].<ref name="auto">{{cite news\|title=Khanani group launders billions of dollars: US report\|first=Anwar \|last=Iqbal \|date=4 March 2017 \|newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)\|Dawn]] \|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1318333 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304052357/https://www.dawn.com/news/1318333 \|archive-date=4 March 2017 \|url-status=live}}</ref> Among the methods used was the traditional [[hawala]] system. The organization moved money for [[Drug cartel\|drug cartels]], [[Outlaw motorcycle club\|biker gangs]], [[Hezbollah]], [[al-Qaeda]] and the armed terrorists behind the Mumbai attacks of [[1993 Bombay bombings\|1993]] and [[2008 Mumbai attacks\|2008]].<ref name="Schliebs">{{cite news\|last=Schliebs \|first=Mark \|date=13 November 2016 \|title=Money launderer Khanani's deal wipes out 273 years of jail time \|newspaper=[[The Australian]] \|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/foreign-affairs/money-launderer-khananis-deal-wipes-out-273-years-of-jail-time/news-story/5aeb30a5bdcb82d1491eb7322570864b \|access-date=5 September 2018 \|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="Al-J-101">{{Cite news\|title=The Billion Dollar Criminal \|date=4 October 2018 \|newspaper=Al Jazeera \|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/101east/2018/10/billion-dollar-criminal-181004053619015.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004154849/https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/101east/2018/10/billion-dollar-criminal-181004053619015.html \|archive-date=4 October 2018 \|url-status=live}}</ref>

	==Arrest==		==Arrest==
	He was arrested in [[Panama]] ~~and later handed over to the United States.<ref name="Schliebs" /> Khanani was arrested in September 2016~~ by the [[US Drug Enforcement Administration]], and ~~has since remained in~~ jail in the United States.<ref name="auto" /> He was indicted in the [[US District Court]] of the Southern District of Florida on fourteen counts of money laundering in June 2015.<ref name="auto" /> In a plea bargain, Khanani pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit laundering ~~and was sentenced to~~ 68 months in prison ~~and~~ a $250,000 fine.<ref name="Husain">{{Cite news\|title=Khanani gets 68 months in US prison\|first=Khurram \|last=Husain \|date=4 April 2017 \|newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)\|Dawn]] \|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1324717 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404034406/https://www.dawn.com/news/1324717 \|archive-date=4 April 2017 \|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Schliebs" />		Khanani was arrested in September 2016 in [[Panama]] by the [[US Drug Enforcement Administration]],<ref name="Schliebs" /> and transported to jail in the United States.<ref name="auto" /> He was indicted in the [[US District Court]] of the Southern District of Florida on fourteen counts of money laundering in June 2015.<ref name="auto" /> In a plea bargain, Khanani pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit laundering. His sentence included 68 months in prison, a $250,000 fine,<ref name="Husain">{{Cite news\|title=Khanani gets 68 months in US prison\|first=Khurram \|last=Husain \|date=4 April 2017 \|newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)\|Dawn]] \|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1324717 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404034406/https://www.dawn.com/news/1324717 \|archive-date=4 April 2017 \|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Schliebs" /> blacklisting by the United States along with his son Obaid Khanani and nephew Hozaifa Khanani,<ref name="auto" /> and his money laundering network has been designated as a Transnational Criminal Organization under the [[Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List\|SDN]] by the [[United States Department of the Treasury]]'s [[Office of Foreign Assets Control]]. Its addresses included Australia, Canada, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=ALTAF KHANANI MONEY LAUNDERING ORGANIZATION \|url=https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/Details.aspx?id=18247 \|access-date=2022-09-09 \|website=sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov}}</ref> Khanani was released from prison on July 13, 2020.<ref>[https://www.bop.gov/mobile/find_inmate/index.jsp#inmate_results (B.O.P. Register Number: 06369-104)]</ref>

	He ~~was also blacklisted~~ by the ~~United States along with his son Obaid Khanani and nephew Hozaifa Khanani.<ref name="auto" /> Khanani was released from prison on July 13, 2020.<ref>~~[~~https://www.bop.gov/mobile/find_inmate/index.jsp#inmate_results (B.O.P. Register Number: 06369-104)~~]~~</ref> His money laundering network has been designated as a Transnational Criminal Organization under the~~ [[~~Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List~~\|~~SDN~~]] ~~by the~~ [[~~United States Department of the Treasury~~]]'s [[~~Office of Foreign Assets Control~~]], with ~~addresses in Australia, Canada, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States~~.<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~ \|title=~~ALTAF KHANANI MONEY LAUNDERING ORGANIZATION~~ \|~~url~~=~~https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/Details.aspx?id~~=~~18247~~ \|~~access~~-~~date~~=~~2022-09-09~~ \|~~website~~=~~sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov~~}}</ref>		==In popular culture==
			He is portrayed by Mushtaq Naika in the 2025 Indian [[Spy film\|spy]] [[Action film\|action thriller]] ''[[Dhurandhar]],'' which is based on the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]] along with the [[IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack]].<ref>{{Cite AV media \|title=[[Dhurandhar]] \|last=Dhar \|first=Aditya \|author-link=Aditya Dhar \|type=Motion picture \|language=hi \|publisher=[[Jio Studios]], [[B62 Studios]] \|year=2025}}</ref>

	==See also==		==See also==
	* [[~~Khanani & Kalia International~~]], ~~involved in~~ money laundering		* [[Pakistan Forex scam case]], involving money laundering by the Khanani brothers and Khanani & Kalia International

	==References==		==References==
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	[[Category:Pakistani people imprisoned abroad]]		[[Category:Pakistani people imprisoned abroad]]
	[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of Florida]]		[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of Florida]]
	[[Category:Pakistani money ~~launderers~~]]		[[Category:Pakistani people convicted of money laundering]]
	[[Category:Pakistani people of Gujarati descent]]		[[Category:Pakistani people of Gujarati descent]]
	[[Category:Memon people]]		[[Category:Memon people]]
	~~[[Category:People convicted of money laundering]]~~
	[[Category:Organised crime in Australia]]		[[Category:Organised crime in Australia]]
	[[Category:Pakistani expatriates in the United Arab Emirates]]		[[Category:Pakistani expatriates in the United Arab Emirates]]
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	[[Category:1993 Bombay bombings]]		[[Category:1993 Bombay bombings]]
	[[Category:Participants in the 2008 Mumbai attacks]]		[[Category:Participants in the 2008 Mumbai attacks]]
			[[Category:Muhajir people]]


	{{Pakistan-bio-stub}}		{{Pakistan-bio-stub}}
	[[Category:Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List]]		[[Category:Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List]]

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2022-10-13T14:32:42Z

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{{short description|Pakistani convicted in the U.S. of money laundering}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Altaf Khanani
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1961|5|2}}<ref name="abc.net.au">{{cite news|last=Besser |first= Linton |date=5 February 2018|title=Catching the money man |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |location=Australia |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-05/the-billion-dollar-bust/9383890 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205230736/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-05/the-billion-dollar-bust/9383890 |archive-date=5 February 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Karachi]], Pakistan
| nationality = Pakistani
| occupation = Money launderer
| relatives =
| children = 5
| criminal_charges = 
| criminal_penalty = 68 months in prison
| criminal_status = Imprisoned
}}

'''Altaf Khanani''' ({{lang-ur|{{nq|الطاف خانانی}}}}; born 2 May 1961) is a Pakistani money launderer who was involved in moving money for terrorist groups and criminal gang groups.<ref>{{Cite news|title=How Australia trapped Altaf Khanani |newspaper=[[The News International]] |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/277826-how-australia-trapped-khanani |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903114957/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/277826-how-australia-trapped-khanani |archive-date=3 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> After serving three years in prison he was released in July 2020.<ref>[https://www.bop.gov/mobile/find_inmate/index.jsp#inmate_results (B.O.P. Register Number: 06369-104)]</ref>

==Early life and family==
He was born in 1961 to [[Memon people|Memon family]] who were originally from [[Gujarat]], India before migrating to Pakistan after independence.<ref name="abc.net.au"/> His father Abdul Sattar Khanani who was a street dealer and businessman.<ref name="abc.net.au"/> He was the twin brother of Javed Khanani who was involved in [[Khanani and Kalia Int.]] fraud.<ref name="abc.net.au"/> His brother allegedly committed suicide in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1300463|title=Javed Khanani dies after falling from building in Karachi, say police|first=Imtiaz|last=Ali|date=4 December 2016|newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214165421/http://www.dawn.com/news/1300463 |archive-date=14 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==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]].<ref name="auto">{{cite news|title=Khanani group launders billions of dollars: US report|first=Anwar |last=Iqbal |date=4 March 2017 |newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1318333 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304052357/https://www.dawn.com/news/1318333 |archive-date=4 March 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> 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 Bombay bombings|1993]] and [[2008 Mumbai attacks|2008]].<ref name="Schliebs">{{cite news|last=Schliebs |first=Mark |date=13 November 2016 |title=Money launderer Khanani's deal wipes out 273 years of jail time |newspaper=[[The Australian]] |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/foreign-affairs/money-launderer-khananis-deal-wipes-out-273-years-of-jail-time/news-story/5aeb30a5bdcb82d1491eb7322570864b |access-date=5 September 2018 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="Al-J-101">{{Cite news|title=The Billion Dollar Criminal |date=4 October 2018 |newspaper=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/101east/2018/10/billion-dollar-criminal-181004053619015.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004154849/https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/101east/2018/10/billion-dollar-criminal-181004053619015.html |archive-date=4 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Arrest==
He was arrested in [[Panama]] and later handed over to the United States.<ref name="Schliebs" /> Khanani was arrested in September 2016 by the [[US Drug Enforcement Administration]], and has since remained in jail in the United States.<ref name="auto" /> He was indicted in the [[US District Court]] of the Southern District of Florida on fourteen counts of money laundering in June 2015.<ref name="auto" /> In a plea bargain, Khanani pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit laundering and was sentenced to 68 months in prison and a $250,000 fine.<ref name="Husain">{{Cite news|title=Khanani gets 68 months in US prison|first=Khurram |last=Husain |date=4 April 2017 |newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1324717 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404034406/https://www.dawn.com/news/1324717 |archive-date=4 April 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Schliebs" />

He was also blacklisted by the United States along with his son Obaid Khanani and nephew Hozaifa Khanani.<ref name="auto" /> Khanani was released from prison on July 13, 2020.<ref>[https://www.bop.gov/mobile/find_inmate/index.jsp#inmate_results (B.O.P. Register Number: 06369-104)]</ref> His money laundering network has been designated as a Transnational Criminal Organization under the [[Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List|SDN]] by the [[United States Department of the Treasury]]'s [[Office of Foreign Assets Control]], with addresses in Australia, Canada, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ALTAF KHANANI MONEY LAUNDERING ORGANIZATION |url=https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/Details.aspx?id=18247 |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Khanani & Kalia International]], involved in money laundering

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{2008 Mumbai attacks}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khanani, Altaf}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Pakistani fraudsters]]
[[Category:Pakistani people imprisoned abroad]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of Florida]]
[[Category:Pakistani money launderers]]
[[Category:Pakistani people of Gujarati descent]]
[[Category:Memon people]]
[[Category:People convicted of money laundering]]
[[Category:Organised crime in Australia]]
[[Category:Pakistani expatriates in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Drug dealers]]
[[Category:People from Karachi]]
[[Category:Pakistani twins]]
[[Category:1993 Bombay bombings]]
[[Category:Participants in the 2008 Mumbai attacks]]

{{Pakistan-bio-stub}}
[[Category:Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List]]