Rafiq ul Haq, 57, of Constance Road in Whitton and Ghulam Mustafa, 39, of Riverside Close, Hanwell, were arrested on 17 May 2011 following a surveillance operation.

SOCA officers had witnessed the pair’s involvement in a number of money handovers. Ul Haq had acted as the money collector and co-ordinator for the network, while Mustafa was responsible for banking high volumes of cash in various bank branches around the west of London.

Paying-in slips recovered during the investigation found the network had banked around £5m pounds during a three month period. More than £800,000 was directly linked to Mustafa.

Samples of cash seized from both of their homes tested positive for traces of cannabis.

Ul Haq later pleaded guilty to money laundering charges, while Mustafa denied the offences. He was found guilty on 13 May following a trial at Croydon Crown Court.

On Thursday 12 September the same court sentenced ul Haq to four years and nine months in prison. He was also placed under a Financial Reporting Order, which will mean that he is required to report his financial details to the authorities for the next ten years.

Additionally, ul Haq was issued with a Serious Crime Prevention Order, which will limit his use of phones, vehicles and the internet. Having claimed he got involved in the criminal enterprise to clear gambling debts, he will also be banned from gambling in a casino, bookmakers or online.

Mustafa was sentenced to two years and six months.

Brendan Foreman, SOCA’s Regional Head of Investigation, said:

“The ability to launder the proceeds of their crimes is a pre-requisite for those involved in sophisticated criminal activity. These two men were key players in a network that was capable of generating millions of pounds and their job was to ensure its safe removal from the jurisdiction and into the hands of principals based overseas. This successful prosecution will send a clear message to those involved in such activity that UK law enforcement is not only alive to their crimes and their schemes but both capable and determined to frustrate existing plans and bring them to justice.”

From October SOCA officers will transfer into the new National Crime Agency (NCA), which will lead the UK’s fight to cut serious and organised crime.

Phil Gormley, Deputy Director General of the NCA said:

"Cash is the engine that drives organised crime and tackling money laundering networks like this will be a key part of the NCA's new crime fighting mission."