Library image: Channel Tunnel Terminal in Folkestone
A man who attempted to leave the UK with over £9,000 cash has forfeited the money following a court hearing.
Hekuran Halili, 70, from Barking in Essex, was a passenger inside a car stopped by Border Force officers at the Channel Tunnel terminal in Folkestone on Saturday 7 November 2020.
Bundles of banknotes
The officers were told that Mr Halili and the driver of the vehicle were travelling to Belgium to deliver furniture to a friend. However, both men were found to be carrying more money than they originally declared including several bundles of banknotes that had been sewn into the lining of the driver’s jacket.
Due to this suspicious behaviour Kent Police was notified and a total of just over £28,000 was seized and later forfeited using legislation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Mr Halili objected to the forfeiture of his portion of the cash, namely £9,258, but failed to attend a hearing at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 19 July 2022 when the forfeiture order was granted in his absence. He was also ordered to pay £2,000 in court costs.
Evidence
Detective Inspector Dave Godfrey of Kent Police’s Economic Crime Unit said: ‘Whilst neither Mr Halili nor his associate were ever charged with any criminal offences in relation to this incident, they were unable to provide any verifiable evidence as to why they were carrying such large sums of money across the border.
‘Our financial investigators regularly use the Proceeds of Crime Act to ensure money potentially earned through illegal means cannot be used to fund further criminal activity, and to reinforce the important message that crime does not pay.’