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A Gulf national convicted of money laundering in a multi-million-dollar crime must pay around $4.45 million as part of a confiscation order or face more jail time.
Abdullah Alfalasi was convicted of coordinating a courier network between 2019 and 2020, which is thought to have moved over $130 million between the UK and the UAE.
As per the latest order, Alfalasi must pay the $4 million amount by June 2024 or face an extra 10 years in jail in addition to the current nine-year term.
The British National Crime Agency (NCA) clarified that the money will continue to be owed even if his sentence is increased.
“Alfalasi oversaw a criminal network of cash couriers who moved dirty money, the lifeblood of organized crime groups, out of the UK at an unprecedented scale,” NCA senior investigating officer Ian Truby said in a statement.
“He now has a clear choice; to pay the money he owes or face more jail time,” he added.
The UAE national was nabbed by the authorities in 2021 during a visit to Belgravia, London, and is serving over nine years in prison following sentencing at the Isleworth Crown Court in 2022.
The latest order was announced by the NCA after conducting an investigation into the individual’s finances.
So far, 16 couriers part of his network have been convicted. The offenders reportedly carried suitcases with up to millions of dollars in vacuum packed bundles, flying business class on commercial routes.
Communication between the couriers occurred via WhatsApp in a group named “Sunshine and Lollipops,” according to earlier reports. The money, thought to be cash from dealing drugs, was collected from gangs in the UK, and counted in London, the NCA said. The couriers themselves were reportedly paid nearly $4,000 per trip.
The 48-year-old ringleader’s name is featured on letters bearing the company name Omnivest Gold Trading LLC, which the NCA said was used to cover cash declarations made by the couriers.
Following his arrest, various assets were identified and seized, including bank savings and investments, properties, cryptocurrency funds in a Binance account, vehicles including a Mercedes G63, Ford pickup truck and Toyota Yaris, three Rolex watches and a Patek Philippe watch.
“We have worked hard to obtain a Confiscation Order, which covers all of Alfalasi’s current available assets, to ensure that he does not financially benefit from this crime in what was one of the largest money laundering operations ever run from the UK,” Adrian Foster, CPS Chief Crown Prosecutor, said in a statement.
“In the last five years, 2018 to 2023, over ￡480 million has been recovered from CPS obtained Confiscation Orders, ensuring that thousands of convicted criminals cannot profit from their offending. ￡105 million of that amount has been returned to victims of crime, by way of compensation,” he added.
Money laundering in the UAE
The UAE has significantly upped its anti-money laundering efforts, confirmed with its exit from the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force watchdog’s “gray list” in February.
From more stringent laws around money transfers to greater imposition of penalties for offenders, the UAE has reported a near three-fold increase in fines.
UAE officials have also made high-profile arrests, including that of hedge fund trader Sanjay Shah, accused of the $1.3 billion in the Cum-Ex trading scam. He was handed over to Denmark late last year and denied his involvement.
Officials also arrested Atul and Rajesh Gupta, who are wanted in South Africa on charges of money laundering and fraud.