LONDON MEN FOUND GUILTY OF LAUNDERING #3 MILLION THROUGH BUREAUX DE CHANGE

10 Oct 2001 12:00 AM

Three London men have today been found guilty for laundering drugs money through bureaux de change in London and the South East.

This South London criminal organisation offered money-laundering services to drug trafficking and other criminal organisations based in the region.

The men convicted at Blackfriars Crown Court were: Jeffrey Thomas Chandler of Vauxhall London. Howard John Prosser of Lee, London. Alfred Ernest Henderson of Dartford in Kent .

In a ten-week period, between May and July 2000, Chandler and Prosser, with the help of their go-between, Henderson, exchanged nearly #3 million in sterling, and some in Scottish notes, into foreign currencies, mainly Dutch guilders or US dollars. They exchanged their currency exclusively at two bureaux de change in West London, Halep Bureau (part of the Daychange group), 2 Pembridge Road, London, W2 and the Danati Bureau, 14 Craven Terrace, London, W2. They used the name Chandler and a false name, Shakespeare, to carry out these transactions. Henderson was used to transport large amounts of cash in bags or holdalls in and around London to be exchanged for foreign currency.

Chandler was arrested attempting to carry out another transaction at the Halep bureau on 27 July last year and was found with £200,000, seized by Customs officers. Prosser and Henderson were arrested shortly after - Henderson was found with £134,000 at his home. They were charged with conspiracy to deal with the proceeds of drug and or criminal conduct.

Customs Assistant Chief Investigator, Jim Fitzpatrick said:

''These sentences/verdicts are a stark warning to those criminals who are laundering money through this country. Tackling financial crime is a high priority for Customs and in doing so we can make a significant contribution to tackling crime generally, including smuggling.

''Financial businesses must inform Law Enforcement of any suspicious transactions as soon as possible - that is the law. Bureaux de change have featured in over 25 money laundering prosecutions by Customs in the last few years. On this occasion the bureau was summoned to give evidence at the trial and were found to have made disclosures on their suspicions to NCIS.

''Customs would welcome any proposal that tightens up regulations for bureaux de change and we look forward to new powers from the

Proceeds of Crime Bill that will allow Customs to stop money laundering in its tracks inland, rather than just at the border. These powers will enable us to move in on criminals much sooner - the days of dirty cash being moved about the country are numbered.''

Earlier this week in a separate case three men in Leicester were also sentenced for laundering money through the same Halep bureau in London. Paramjit Dhaliwal of Amsterdam, Holland, Navtej Singh of Oadby, Leicester and Javir Singh of Littleover, Derby were all found guilty of having laundered #5.9 million since the middle of June last year. Abscondeee Gulbir Singh Rana of Rothley was also found guilty but has not yet been sentenced.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Full details of the defendants were:

1) Jeffrey Thomas Chandler, Born 3 March 1955, 8 Black Prince Road,Vauxhall London, SE11

2) Howard John Prosser, Born 10 May 1956, 26 Lucorn Close, Lee London, SE12

3) Alfred Ernest Henderson, Born 18 June 1937, 32 Sheridan Court, St Edmunds Road, Dartford, Kent

2. Photos are available from Customs press office.

3. Conspiracy to deal with the proceeds of drug and or criminal conduct is contrary to Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

4. The public should contact Customs Confidential on 0800 59 5000 if they see anything suspicious.

Issued by Customs and Excise Headquarters, London.