Two More Busted in £15M Cash Couriering Gang Flying Money to Dubai
Cash Courier Duo Charged with Money Laundering
Two suspects have been hit with charges linked to a massive cash couriering racket. Joe Round, 30, from Blewitt Street, Pensnett, Dudley, and Louise Smith, 33, from School Street, Brierley Hill, were charged on Monday with conspiracy to launder money. They appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court and have been granted conditional bail until their next hearing at Croydon Crown Court on 20 December.
The pair were caught red-handed at Heathrow Airport on 18 November 2018, as they tried to fly with nearly £730,000 in cash stuffed in a suitcase. This led the National Crime Agency (NCA) to uncover a network suspected of moving an eye-watering £15.5 million from the UK to Dubai.
Major Bust: 10 Others Arrested and Charged
Earlier in the investigation, ten more suspects were arrested in raids across London, believed to be part of the same organised crime gang. All face charges including conspiracy to launder criminal cash and organised crime membership. Some are also charged with conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.
- Charan Singh, 41, Hounslow
- Valjeet Singh, 30, Hounslow
- Jasbir Singh Dhal, 28, Southall
- Sundar Vengadassalam, 44, Southall
- Jasbeer Singh Malhotra, 33, Manor Rd
- Pinky Kapur, 35, Hayes
- Manmon Singh Kapur, 44, Hayes
- Swander Singh Dhal, 33, Hounslow
- Jasbir Singh Kapoor, 31, Hayes
- Diljan Malhotra, 43, Uxbridge
All ten were remanded in custody to face court at Uxbridge Magistrates’ the day after their arrest.
NCA and Partners Crack Down on Multi-Million Pound Operation
The NCA led the investigation with support from Dubai Police, Border Force, and the Metropolitan Police. The gang funneled millions through suitcases between UK airports and Dubai over three years, including during 2017 and 2018 when more than £14 million allegedly moved through the network.
The ringleader, a 41-year-old man from Hayes, remains in custody. Officers seized cash, drugs, and luxury vehicles like Range Rovers and Audi Q7s during coordinated raids across Hounslow, Hayes, Uxbridge, and Southall.
Experts Strike at Organised Crime’s Cash Flow
Chris Hill, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, said: “Cash is the lifeblood of organised crime groups and they need the services of money launderers. We believe the action we and our partners have taken will have caused permanent damage to a well-established money laundering network. We’re determined to target illicit financial flows and hit organised crime where it hurts — in the pocket.”
Ben Russell, Deputy Director of the National Economic Crime Centre, said: “The NECC helped with forensic analysis and used international contacts in the UAE to gather evidence. Our unique role in coordinating responses to cash smuggling, both nationally and abroad, aims to disrupt criminals and bring them to justice. This joint effort is crucial to dismantling operations like this.”
