Monday 29 Apr 2024 @ 14:15
National Crime Agency
Printable version

Cash couriers who smuggled millions in suitcases are sentenced

Six more members of a money laundering network which smuggled more than £100 million out of the UK to the UAE have been sentenced following an investigation by the National Crime Agency.

The network transported the cash to Dubai during 83 separate trips between November 2019 and October 2020, overseen by ringleader Abdullah Alfalasi, 48, who was jailed for more than nine years in July 2022.

The couriers, who were paid between £3,000-5,000 for each trip and would be booked on business class flights due to the extra luggage allowance, communicated on WhatsApp groups including one titled ’Sunshine and lollipops’.

Paige Henry, 26, from Birmingham, Samantha Horst, 51, from Staines-upon-Thames, Craig Bramall, 42, from Wigan, Bridget Taylor, 44, from Edinburgh, Ali Al-Nawab, 40, and Mehdi Amrollahbibiyouki, 41, both from London, were all sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court.

Click here for the full press release

 

Channel website: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/

Original article link: https://nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/cash-couriers-who-smuggled-millions-in-suitcases-are-sentenced

Share this article

Latest News from
National Crime Agency

People smuggler who arranged spaces on Channel boat crossings jailed following NCA investigation

25/07/2024 16:15:00

A prolific people smuggler has been jailed for nearly ten years for arranging Channel crossings to the UK in small boats

Man found guilty of abusing children 16 years ago

25/07/2024 11:15:00

A man who sexually abused a vulnerable young girl, aided by his girlfriend at the time, has faced justice 16 years later as a result of a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation.

12,000 takedowns as NCA leads blitz on people smugglers' social media accounts

25/07/2024 10:05:00

The National Crime Agency has led a huge increase in the number of takedowns of social media posts, pages and accounts advertising the services of people smugglers, thanks to a partnership with four major social media companies.

Spanish national jailed following large Manchester Airport cannabis seizure

24/07/2024 11:10:00

A Spanish man who attempted to smuggle almost 160 kilos of cannabis into the UK via Manchester Airport has been jailed for more than three years.

NCA infiltrates world's most prolific DDoS-for-hire service

23/07/2024 14:15:00

The National Crime Agency has infiltrated a significant DDoS-for-hire service which has been responsible for tens of thousands of attacks every week across the globe.

Brits arrested in major international investigation into 1.5 tonne cocaine importation

19/07/2024 15:25:00

Ten British nationals have been arrested as part of multi-agency investigation into drug trafficking from South America to Europe.

£1.2m cash and £350,000 assets seized as organised crime group dismantled

17/07/2024 09:20:00

An organised crime group responsible for laundering millions in criminal cash, class A and B drug distribution and the attempted fraudulent acquisition of £1.5million of government grants has been dismantled following a two-year NCA investigation.

NCA recovers £5.8m linked to an international money laundering network

15/07/2024 16:25:00

On 11th July 2024 the NCA obtained a Recovery Order over funds totalling £1,079,000 from bank accounts argued to have been used as part of an international money laundering network. 

Man charged over attempted gun parts importation

15/07/2024 12:05:00

A man from Birmingham has been charged as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into the attempted importation of firearms components