The moment money launderer Asghar Gheshlaghian is arrested
An Iranian criminal who bragged about being trusted by people smuggling gangs has been found guilty of money laundering.
Asghar Gheshalghian, 48, took money from migrants or their families and held on to it until they crossed the Channel.
He then gave the smuggling networks their money, investigators said.
Gheshalghian was part of a “network of bankers transferring money using the hawala system” and part of the evidence used to convict him was gathered from an ITV documentary.
Cash bundles found in a bag in a lockup (Image: NCA )
The Iranian, who was found guilty of five counts of money laundering at Southwark Crown Court, bragged on the phone: “They approve me, they know I won’t cheat on them, once the task is completed – money”.
NCA Branch Commander Mark Howes said: “By his own admission Asghar Gheshalghian was trusted by organised crime gangs to handle their payments and launder the money they made through organising dangerous Channel boat and lorry crossings.
“In doing so he enabled their criminality and happily took a cut from the profits they made from it.
“Crossing the Channel illegally in boats or lorries is extremely dangerous, sadly in recent days/weeks we have seen it can have fatal consequences.
“This is why disrupting and dismantling the gangs involved in organised immigration crime is a priority for the NCA.
“Targeting their financial flows through agents like Gheshalghian is just one of the ways we are doing that.”
Detectives found that ￡1.6 million followed through his bank accounts, the National Crime Agency said.
A ledger was found detailing many of the transactions, investigators said.
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Evidence was also obtained from an ITV documentary where undercover reporters approached a people smuggler in northern France, who discussed sending money through a broker called “Mr G” – Gheshalghian. The people smuggler was later convicted in France.
Cash found in Gheshalghian's office (Image: National Crime Agency)
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Michael Oatley, Unit Head for the CPS, said: “Asghar Gheshlaghian knowingly ran an unregulated money service business to help criminal gangs smuggle people into the UK illegally.
“People smugglers treat vulnerable migrants desperate for a better life as goods, often putting their safety and even lives at risk for profit. Through his money laundering service, Gheshlaghian helped fund and facilitate dangerous criminals who exploited migrants and undermined UK border security for his own financial benefit.
“This prosecution sends a clear message that the CPS, alongside law enforcement, will work tirelessly to help dismantle these criminal networks trying to facilitate illegal immigration.”
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