Model ‘paid thousands to smuggle £5m criminal cash into Dubai by hiding money in her holiday luggage’
A FORMER model was paid thousands to smuggle £5m worth of criminal cash into Dubai, a court has heard.
Jo-Emma Larvin, of Ripon, North Yorkshire, allegedly hid the money in her luggage when flying out of Heathrow.
Larvin, 44, is understood to have received £3,000 plus expenses to carry out the job.
Isleworth Crown Court heard she made the journey twice during 2020.
In August of that year, Larvin made the first trip with co-accused Amy Harrison, 27, of Surrey.
The pair are said to have taken £2.2m into Dubai across seven suitcases.
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On Larvin's second trip in September, partner Jonathan Johnson, 55, travelled with her.
Prosecutors say £2.8m was smuggled by the couple - this time across eight cases.
Larvin and Johnson were arrested in March 2022.
Members of the smuggling ring, which also allegedly include Beatrice Auty, 26, and Liam Rabone, 29, would fly business class so they could take more luggage.
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They would also pack the cases with holiday essentials to hide the money.
Prosecutor Julian Christopher KC said: “Each of the defendants is alleged to have played a significant part in the transportation of very large amounts of cash - English and Scottish banknotes - out to Dubai from Heathrow.
"Millions of pounds worth, carried in suitcases checked in as luggage as they were flying as passengers.”
He added the smugglers' cases would typically carry around £500,000.
According to HMRC, anything over 10,000 Euros leaving the EU needs to be declared.
Mr Christopher said: "If these were declared at Heathrow the likelihood is that they would be detained until the source of the money could be determined."
Abdulla Alfalasi organised 83 successful trips over 18 months, the court heard.
The defendants accused are said to have been involved in 16 of those.
The trial continues.
