Admin l Tuesday, May 11, 2021
LONDON – At least eight suspects were today arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in an operation targeting a network of cash couriers responsible for laundering over £50 million in criminal profits. They were arrested today in a raid in London, Surrey, West Yorkshire, and Greater Manchester.
Among the eight people arrested were three men and five women. The NCA alleged they are cash couriers responsible for hiding large amounts of cash in luggage on commercial flights to Dubai from Heathrow or Manchester airports.
According to the NCA , on each occasion the alleged couriers flew out with large amounts of checked in baggage and would return with fewer cases days later.
“The investigation began after the seizure of around £1.9 million from outbound passenger Tara Hanlon, aged 30, from Leeds, at Heathrow in October 2020. She was later charged with money laundering and now awaits trial”, the NCA said.
A month later Czech national Zdenek Kamaryt( 38), from Ceske Budejovice in the Czech Republic, was intercepted while attempting to board a flight from Heathrow to Dubai with £1.3 million cash in his bags. Investigators said he has made two previous trips in July and August. Kamaryt pleaded guilty to money laundering offences and was given a two-year jail sentence on 9 March 2021.
Commenting on the development, NCA senior investigating officer Ian Truby said, “Cash is the lifeblood of organised crime. “Organised crime groups need to launder it so they invest it in further criminality. Our investigation has identified millions of pounds of what we suspect are criminal profits being flown out of the UK to be laundered.
“This investigation has prevented that from happening on a number of occasions, but we have been able to identify previous trips by individuals we believe were carrying money. What we have seen is huge shipments of cash, with couriers carrying multiple suitcases, with up to half a million pounds in each case. Those couriers would likely have been paid several thousand pounds themselves. Our investigation continues, and those arrested today remain in custody for questioning.”
