Reported by Margot Patrick bc

They looked like ordinary tourists with very big bags. But like a network of ants, they carried off tens of millions of dollars in cash from London to Dubai.

British crime fighters cracked a money-laundering network that they say moved more than £100 million, equivalent to $125 million. A London court found two men guilty of illegal smuggling on Thursday, taking convictions in the network of cash couriers to 16, according to the National Crime Agency.

The network’s couriers, typically posing as tourists, were paid up to £5,000 to carry the cash bags. They flew business class for the extra luggage allowances, and moved £1 million or more by checking-in three or four suitcases. Photos and videos released by the NCA show some of the couriers in sandals wheeling suitcases through Heathrow Airport and the views from their hotel rooms in Dubai. 

The NCA probe found the crime ring’s members counted and vacuum-packed money received from other criminal gangs in London apartments, and then locked it into suitcases to be picked up by couriers. Once on the ground in Dubai, the couriers were sent an image of a letter to show customs officials for customs declarations, and given codes to open the suitcase locks.

Then the couriers would check into five-star hotels for a few days, the NCA investigators said. 

Britain for years has been trying to stamp out money being laundered through its banks and real estate, particularly from overseas. Financial crime lawyers say the tightening in rules and laws has made it harder for crime gangs to wash their money in traditional ways such as through shell companies or small businesses.

Bitcoin also has proven to be problematic for criminals. Physical transportation, including hiring couriers for relatively small sums, has become an alternative.

Adrian Searle, director of the NCA’s national economic center, said going after the low-tech form of moving money targets the heart of criminal business models.

Read full report: https://www.wsj.com/world/uk/whats-in-those-huge-suitcases-125-million-in-cash-7cd97ba1