Gold worth £4,000,000 from suspected drug cartel seized at Heathrow
Four million pounds worth of gold believed to be linked to a South American drug cartel has been seized at Heathrow.
The 104 kilo shipment of gold bars and pieces was travelling to Switzerland after being shipped from the Cayman Islands when it was intercepted by Border Force officers last month.
It was originally shipped to the Cayman Islands from Venezuela using a private jet.
While the ‘substantial’ shipment was stopped by officers on June 1, a successful application by the National Crime Agency this week now means it can be permanently held under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court allowed the gold to be held under the legislation designed to stop criminals from profiting from their crimes.
The blocks of precious metal are now being treated as laundered goods as part of an investigation by the Cayman Islands and the NCA.
Authorities across the world are now attempting to identify the original source of the gold.
Most of the gold seized was in blocks, but at least six pieces of the laundered precious metal was heart shaped.
Lynne Owens, Director General of the NCA, praised the seizure, posting: ‘Further progress to stop the UK being used as a route for illicit finance. Excellent work by our international network.’
NCA Heathrow branch commander, Steve McIntyre, said: ‘We believe that this shipment was linked to drugs cartels operating out of South America.
‘Working with partners overseas and in the UK we were quickly able to identify it and stop its onward movement.
‘The business model of many organised crime groups relies upon the ability to move money across borders, to fund further investment in criminal activity.
‘If we can stop that it not only causes disruption to the criminal network involved and prevents them benefiting from crime, it also stops that re-investment.’
Nick Jariwalla, Border Force Heathrow Director, said: ‘Taking large amounts of money or gold out of the control of criminal networks hits them where they feel it most, in the pocket.
‘This was a substantial seizure and demonstrates how effectively Border Force works with law enforcement partners, both at home and abroad, to combat organised crime.’