Six Italians caught red-handed at Stansted with a suitcase full of cash – £818,025 stuffed into their luggage just before a flight to Montenegro. The Border Force nailed them on February 2, 2019, but their story didn’t add up.
£818,025 Cash Stash Busted Before Flight
Pietro Doca, William Cerri, Giuseppino Anfosso, Giovanni Piazza, Angelo Inferrera, and Nicola Anfosso were stopped by officers at Stansted Airport. All six claimed the cash came from sales of high-end watches like Rolex and Audemars Piguet. Yet, none could show a single receipt or bank statement to back up their story. And despite saying the sales happened the day before, they couldn’t tell officers how much any watches sold for.
Crooked Cash Courier Claims Fall Flat
The group insisted they were carrying £676,000 in total – but officers found £142,025 more tucked away. The National Crime Agency (NCA) told Folkestone Magistrates’ Court the money was most likely laundered cash or headed for illegal activities. They believe the men were couriering the cash for a third party, trying to dodge banks and official audits.
Men Snub Court, Cash Forfeited
None of the six turned up for the hearing on January 10. The court ordered all of the seized cash plus interest and £5,099.50 in legal costs forfeited to the authorities.
Branch Commander Mark Howes said: “Their stories just didn’t ring true. They refused to declare the cash despite being asked multiple times. And stuffing that much money into suitcases clearly shows it wasn’t from a legit source. Using civil powers lets us seize suspected criminal profits and hit them where it hurts.”
