The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has seized gold bars worth over $4.8 million at London-Heathrow Airport (LHR).
The gold bars are suspected of belonging to South American drug cartels that may have been trying to smuggle them for money laundering purposes.
The seizure was part of an international investigation which saw the gold initially moved by private jet from Venezuela to the Cayman Islands.
The shipment was then transported to Switzerland and then onto Heathrow on June 1, 2022, where Border Force agents were alerted by the NCA.
The investigation into money laundering is now being led by authorities in the Cayman Islands, with the assistance of the NCA.
The bars and pieces of gold, which together weigh around 104 kilos, have been seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act, following a hearing at Uxbridge Magistrates in London.
“We believe that this shipment was linked to drugs cartels operating out of South America. movement,” said NCA Heathrow branch commander, Steve McIntyre. “Working with partners overseas and in the UK we were quickly able to identify it and stop its onward movement.”
He added: “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, but it also stops that re-investment.”
