Harrison

Six people who smuggled millions of pounds in criminal cash stuffed in Suitcases from London to Dubai have been sentenced.

Jo-Emma Larvin, Jonathan Johnson , Beatrice Auty, Amy Harrison , Nicola Esson and Muhammad Ilyas moved The Cash between 2019 and 2020, detectives said.

At Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday, Auty was jailed for 42 months while The Others received Suspended Sentences .

They had been convicted of removing criminal property in April.

The National Crime Agency said all six were part of a money-laundering scheme that saw More Than £104m leave the UK, which was led by Abdullah Alfalasi, 48, who was jailed In July 2022 for nine years and seven months.

A trial had heard they transported The Cash to Dubai, via Heathrow, during 83 separate trips between November 2019 and October 2020 and were paid about £3,000 for each journey, travelling in Business Class to allow for extra luggage.

The Gang communicated on a WhatsApp group called " sunshine and lollipops" and a letter from a company called Omnivest was given to customs in Dubai while The Cash was declared, jurors were told.

Officers said The Network collected The Cash , thought to be gained from drug dealing across the UK, and vacuum packed it in Suitcases - each containing about £500,000 - Sprayed with coffee or air fresheners in a bid to hide the contents from detection dogs.

Auty, 27, of Kingswoond House, Kingston, checked in seven Suitcases containing £3. 4m during her journeys. She was also involved in the " logistical arrangements" for a further 16 trips, the NCA said.

Larvin, 44, a model, and her partner Johnson , 55, both from Ripon in North Yorkshire , took on an Emirates flight on 9 September 2020, jurors heard.

She accompanied Harrison , 28, of Worcester Park , Surrey, taking seven cases between them containing £2. 2m on another journey.

Harrison also made three trips between July and September 2020 taking 15 Suitcases containing around £6m, the NCA said.

Nicola Esson, 56, from Leeds, checked in 19 Suitcases with a combined weight of almost half a tonne, while Muhammad Ilyas , 30, from Slough, smuggled £2. 5m in four Suitcases , one of which had Gone Missing but was later found by Border Force officers.

Another is yet to be sentenced and four others are due to stand trial in November.

Source of news: bbc.com