Two Londoners have been convicted for their part in smuggling more than £100 million of cash in suitcases from the UK to the UAE.
The pair are the fifteenth and sixteenth members of an “industrial-scale money laundering operation” to be convicted after more than £104 million was smuggled during 83 London to Dubai trips between November 2019 and October 2020.
Ali Al-Nawab, 40, from Golders Green and Mehdi Amrollahbibiyouki, 41, from Finchley, were found guilty on Thursday following a three-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court.
The criminal conspiracy was overseen by ringleader Abdullah Alfalasi, 48, who was jailed for more than nine years in July 2022.
Evidence found on Alfalasi’s phone showed that Al-Nawab and Amrollahbibiyouki both worked as cash couriers.
The couriers were paid up to £5,000 for each trip and would be booked on business class flights due to the extra luggage allowance.
The group communicated on WhatsApp groups including one named “Sunshine and lollipops”.
Amrollahbibiyouki, made three trips to Dubai in February and March 2020, checking in 12 suitcases containing £4.3 million.
He was arrested at his home address in April last year.
Evidence on his phones showed he was responsible for counting and packaging £11.1 million worth of cash for eight trips made by couriers, including the ones he made himself.
Al-Nawab made two journeys in March 2020, checking in nine suitcases containing £3.2 million.
He was arrested in May 2022 as he was leaving the UK to travel to Turkey.
The group collected cash from criminal groups around the UK, which was believed to be the profits of drug dealing.
The money was then taken to counting houses - which were usually rented apartments in central London.
The money was then vacuum packed and separated into suitcases which would typically each contain around £400,000, weighing around 40 kilos.
They were sprayed with coffee or air fresheners to try and hide them from Border Force detection dogs.
National Crime Agency senior investigating officer Ian Truby said: “Al-Nawab and Amrollahbibiyouki were part of an industrial-scale money laundering operation that saw huge amounts of criminal cash smuggled out of the UK.
“Their convictions mark a further dismantlement of this prolific and extensive criminal network.
“Our investigation will not cease until all those involved are brought before the courts and made accountable for their crimes.”
The pair are due to be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on March 8.
Fourteen other couriers have been convicted previously.
