Heathrow passenger charged after £400,000 cash found in suitcase

A man has been charged with money laundering after £400,000 in banknotes was discovered in a suitcase at Heathrow Airport.

Border Force apprehended Broomand Nasab, 41 from Austria, as he attempted to board a flight to Turkey on Wednesday.

Police said they also discovered nearly 11,000 euros (£9,100) in his backpack.

All the cash was seized by police at the scene and Nasab was arrested.

Following an investigation Nasab was charged with one count of money laundering and was due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

According to the Proceeds of Crime Act, money laundering is ‘the process by which the proceeds of crime are converted into assets which appear to have a legitimate origin, so that they can be retained permanently or recycled into further criminal enterprises’.

A spokesperson for the National Crime Agency said: ‘A man has been charged following a National Crime Agency investigation after £400,000 in cash was found in his suitcase as he attempted to fly out of the UK.

‘Austrian national Broomand Nasab, 41, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday and was charged with one count of money laundering.

‘Nearly 11,000 Euros were also found in his carry-on backpack. All the money was seized.

‘Nasab, who lives in Austria, was about to board a flight to Turkey, when he was stopped by colleagues from Border Force who found the money.

‘He will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court today (Friday).’

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