Brit Terror Fundraiser Busted Over €20k Cash Smuggling Plot
Aine Leslie Davis, a British national with no fixed address, tried to smuggle €20,000 from the UK to Syria back in January 2014. The cash was meant to fund Daesh terrorists overseas.
But police swooped and seized the money before it ever left Britain.
Turkey Jails Davis for Links to Daesh
In 2015, Davis was caught in Turkey and handed a hefty 7½-year prison term for being a Daesh member. After serving his sentence, he was deported back to the UK last August—only to be arrested straight away by counter-terror officers.
Old Bailey Slaps 8-Year Sentence for Terror Fundraising
On Monday 13 November, Davis pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to fundraising for terrorism and was slammed with an eight-year jail term.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said:
“Davis arranged for a large sum of money to be smuggled from the UK to fund the terrorist activities of Daesh—a group he had travelled to Syria to join.
“It’s been nearly ten years since these crimes. We want to send a clear message: no matter how much time passes, we will relentlessly pursue and prosecute anyone involved in terrorism here or abroad.”
“The Met and our international partners work tirelessly to bring terrorists like Davis to justice.”
Wife Nabbed After Cash Seizure
Davis’s wife, Amal El-Wahabi, helped plan the cash transfer from the UK while Davis was in Syria. Police intercepted the money and arrested her. Phone data revealed calls and messages between the pair plotting the fund transfer.
Shocking images recovered by officers showed Davis posing with a firearm alongside other suspected Daesh members.
El-Wahabi was jailed for 28 months in November 2014 for funding terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000.
A second man was cleared of any wrongdoing.
How to Help Fight Terrorism
Community vigilance plays a key role in stopping terrorism. If you see or hear anything suspicious, trust your gut and report it immediately.
- Visit gov.uk/ACT
- Call the anti-terror hotline on 0800 789 321
- In an emergency, dial 999
