Money launderer tried to smuggle £900,000 in suitcases from Scotland to Dubai

A man travelling from Britain to the UAE with more than £850,000 ($1.1 million) of cash in his luggage has been convicted of money laundering.

Lukas Pokorny, from the Czech Republic, was arrested at Glasgow Airport in Scotland on November 8 last year as he tried to board an Emirates flight to Dubai for a two-week stay.

UK Border Force agents became suspicious of Pokorny when he checked in three suitcases, which he later claimed did not belong to him.

A search of his luggage revealed cash worth £867,030 in mixed currencies hidden in plastic bags.

Pokorny, 41, was unable to provide keys to unlock the luggage, or say to whom the cases belonged or what they contained.

He said he was flying to Dubai to stay with a friend and the money was to allow him to establish a career teaching people to jet-ski.

On Monday, he pleaded guilty to three charges under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 at the High Court in Glasgow. Sentencing will be carried out in March.

“This was a significant seizure of criminal cash, the proceeds of organised crime," said Gerry McLean, of the National Crime Agency said.

"Taking it out has prevented that money being invested into further criminal activity, violence and exploitation on the streets of Scotland.

“Working with partners including Police Scotland and Border Force, we are determined to do all we can to disrupt the flow of illicit finance.”

Det Insp Tom Gillan of the Organised Crime Partnership in Scotland said: “Targeting the movement of criminal cash and profits from organised crime groups in Scotland remains a priority.

“The arrest and conviction of Pokorny is another excellent example of the value of partnership working between Organised Crime Partnership, Border Force and National Crime Agency officers.

“I welcome his conviction and the significant amount of laundered cash that has been taken out of criminal circulation.”

The Organised Crime Partnership in Scotland is an investigation team comprising of officers and staff from Police Scotland and the National Crime Agency.