Watch this: Video shows how a family moved cash out of the UK via airports, including Birmingham Airport
A Bradford family smuggled cash out of the UK via airports including Manchester and Birmingham, with insider help from an airline employee.
Between December 2017 and November 2019, flights from Manchester, Birmingham, and Brussels airports to Dubai were used to smuggle hundreds of thousands of pounds in up to five luggage at a time.
The crimes were made by one mother, Heather Jeffrey, 58, her son Sheldan Noel, 30, and her daughter Lamara Noel, 34.
The family were from Bradford, West Yorkshire.
New CCTV footage released by The National Crime Agency shows other couriers pushed through the cash.
Here, Devanyl Graham, 26, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, and Sophie Logan, 31 pushing a total of seven suitcases through Manchester Airport’s terminal 1 back in May 2018.
In the video, you can see how Emirates check-in desk attendant Emma Rauf, 34, waved through suitcases full of cash as they were smuggled on to flights at Manchester Airport, despite the fact they were over the weight limit.
The National Crime Agency’s Jon Hughes said:
“This crime group smuggled cash from crime out of the UK on an industrial scale, to remove it from the scrutiny of law enforcement and launder it.
“Emma Rauf enabled many of these trips by exploiting her position as an airline employee to waive through suitcases stuffed with money to avoid detection by law enforcement.
“Cash is the lifeblood of organised crime groups. It fuels violence and insecurity around the world.
“Criminals are prepared to unleash violence to maintain control as the horrific shooting at Emma Rauf’s family home shows.
“This could have easily led to death or serious injury had someone been there, showing that Rauf and Royle recklessly placed their family in grave danger.
“Disrupting the supply of such illicit cash is a priority for the NCA and our partners.
“We will continue to target cash couriers and hit crime groups where it hurts – in the pocket – and those who hold roles or positions that facilitate serious and organised crime.
“We also work with other agencies to target the issue of insider threats at ports and airports.”