LONDON – Television antiques expert Ochuko Ojiri, known for his regular appearances on BBC’s Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, has pleaded guilty to failing to report a series of high-value art transactions tied to a terrorism financing investigation.
The 53-year-old art dealer from west London admitted to eight counts under Section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000, making him the first individual ever convicted under this specific legislation. The law requires individuals in regulated sectors to report knowledge or suspicion of terror financing involving business associates.
Ojiri’s charges relate to a period between October 2020 and December 2021, during which he failed to inform authorities about a series of art sales to a man under suspicion of financing Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organization.
The case was pursued following an extensive investigation led by the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit (NTFIU), a specialist division of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorized the charges, with additional support from HM Treasury, HMRC, and the Met’s Arts & Antiques Unit.
Under UK law, it is a criminal offence for individuals in regulated sectors to neglect reporting such concerns. Ojiri’s case marks a significant application of this provision within the arts and antiques trade, a sector seen as vulnerable to money laundering and illicit financing.
Ojiri is described by the BBC as an “expert” with a passion for contemporary art. In a Q&A published on the broadcaster’s website, he shared that he was “absolutely obsessed” with collecting works such as paintings, sculptures, and drawings.
He described his role as bringing “new life and context into forgotten and neglected treasures” and credited his career in antiques to his unique combination of “sarcasm, cynicism, and passion.”
Despite his television profile, Ojiri’s involvement in the serious legal case underscores the importance of vigilance in high-value trades.
In one interview, he admitted he had “no idea” why he became part of Bargain Hunt and joked that, if not working in antiques, he might want to “forecast trends,” likening it to “deciding what you’ll eat before you’re even hungry.”
Sentencing is expected soon, as authorities emphasize that failure to report suspected terror links, even indirectly, carries serious consequences, particularly in sectors handling valuable and mobile assets like art.
